Curtis K. LaFollette

Retired Trenton banker Curtis K. LaFollette of Trenton died at 9:20 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 at the Kansas City Veterans Hospital. He was 90 and had been residing at the Veterans Home in Cameron for the last eight months.
Funeral services are pending at Slater-Neal Funeral Home of Trenton.
Mr. LaFollette was born on May 27, 1930 in Grundy County to Schuyler King and Letha Mattie Ratliff LaFollette. As a small child his family lived in Cainsville and then moved to Ridgeway, where he graduated high school in 1948. After graduation, he worked at the hardware store in Ridgeway and then later at the Ridgeway National Bank prior to his marriage and enlistment into the U.S. Air Force.
He married Bonita Jean Ramey on May, 27, 1950 in a double-ceremony with his sister, Winifred, and her husband, Tom Champlin at the Methodist Church in Ridgeway.
He enlisted into the U.S. Air Force on Nov. 15, 1951. He graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and through career counseling he was chosen for a job at Stat Services at the headquarters squadron at Lackland. He was processing data cards and payroll for all of the military stationed at the base. He was trained in IBM computers at IBM School in downtown San Antonio. As staff sargent, he taught the system to basic trainees. He and Bonita spent all four years during the Korean Conflict at Lackland.
Curtis had secured a job with a bank in San Antonio, but upon the untimely death of his 19-year-old brother-in-law, Carlyle Ramey, Curtis moved his family back to Missouri and was hired at the Trenton Trust Company in 1956. During his early years at the bank he spent three summers at the LSU School of Banking. He retired as bank president in December 1997.
While at the bank he served as president of the board of directors for Wright Memorial Hospital, president of the Chamber of Commerce, officer of the Missouri Bankers Association, was a foundation member for Children’s Mercy Hospital and was a member of the ServeLink Board of Directors. He was a member of the Lions Club, Rotary Club and the Wesley United Methodist Church.
During the Reagan Administration, Curtis was invited to Washington D.C. to discuss agriculture issues with then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. While there he had an opportunity to exchange ideas with numerous government officials, farmers and other bankers from across the country.
His greatest joys were the love of his life, Bonita, and their three daughters. He was very patriotic and was proud to be an American. He loved most sports, but mostly golf. He was a loyal husband, father, brother, son and friend to many!
Survivors include three daughters: Carmella (Randy) Foster of Laredo, and Rochelle (Eric) Woodard and Deidra (Jerry) Swank of Trenton; seven grandchildren, Matt Foster and Keri, Megan Foster and Matt, Hollie Barrows and Bryan, Carl Woodard and Leslie, Christina Ferguson and Jordan, Ivy Anderson and Justin and Chelsea Pflug and Curtis; 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Sharon Adams and Arvol of North Kansas City; and many nieces and nephews.
Curtis is preceded in death by his wife, Bonita; his parents, Schuyler and Letha; one brother, Gail; and three sisters, Winifred, Karen and Brenda.
The family requests memorial donations to the Kansas City VA Medical Center. They may be left at or mailed to the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left at www.resthavenmort.com