Curtis Weslie Riffe, age 89, died peacefully with his children by his side on July 21, 2022. He was born March 11, 1933, in Kansas City, Missouri, to George Martin Riffe and Dora May (Loyd) Riffe. He was united in marriage to Rispie (Wilson) Riffe, on June 16, 1956, in Weaubleau, Missouri.
Curtis began working at a young age. He had many jobs as a young boy, including working at a fruit stand and riding his bicycle around the Kansas City area delivering telegrams. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and was on tour in Korea. He served in until 1955. He was honored to have served his country and wore his Korea Veterans caps proudly.
Curtis began working at General Motors Leeds Plant in 1955. He worked at GM for 30 years before retiring in 1985. After his retirement from GM, he started his own courier company and later began driving a tour bus, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He continued to work until the age of 79. He was always a hard worker no matter what the job.
He was a member of the Assemblies of God and served as a deacon at Central Assembly of God in Raytown, Missouri, for over 25 years. As of recent he was attending online at Journey Church International. Curtis loved his Savior, Jesus Christ, and if you spent very much time with him, he was sure to talk about Jesus and share what passage he had read in his Bible that morning.
He was an avid reader and besides reading his Bible daily, he would also be reading a devotional book, and a novel. He loved buying Bibles and books at thrift stores. The Bibles that Curtis accumulated over the years are being donated to a Christian club at a local high school where they will be distributed to high school students who do not own a Bible.
Curtis’ greatest joy in life was his family. He loved his kids and grandchildren, but he would tell you “There’s just something about those great grandbabies. Oh, I love those babies!”, and he certainly did.
Curtis is survived by his two children, son Paul (Dawn) Riffe, Greenwood, Missouri, and daughter, Janise Riffe, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; four grandchildren, Whitney (Tim) Warner, Spencer (Kaitlyn) Riffe, Kristin (Michael) Scott, and Taylor Riffe; six great-grandchildren, Brody, Amelia, Remington, Thea, Jameson and Marley, one sister, Lona Laughlin; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Rispie Riffe, his parents, sisters, Norma Jean Cox and Vyrel Dean Poston, and brother, Gilbert Riffe.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a celebration of life service to begin at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at Journey Church International, 1601 MO-150, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Journey Church International, 1601 MO-150, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Nephew ,Kingsland ,Arkansas
Martha and I were saddened to hear of Uncle Curtis passing. So glad he knew the Lord as his personal Savior. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He and Aunt Rispie are reunited. May God comfort you all
Family Friend ,Peculiar ,Missouri
I only met Curtis a few times, but I've rarely (probably never) known a grown man who I knew loved spending time with his dad as much as I knew Paul did with Curtis. It's so rare I can't help but be impacted by the love Paul & Curtis had for each other. I'm inspired by their relationship to love & appreciate my dad more and more, and to try to foster a relationship with my own boys that somehow lasts as long and is as close to the quality of relationship Curtis had with Paul.
