Charles Stanley Fowler peacefully passed away on November 2, 2023, at his home on Ridge Road in Nevada City, CA. He was 96 years old. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 1pm at the Gold Miners Inn, 121 Bank Street, Grass Valley. A private burial will take place at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery.

Charles was born on April 2, 1927 in Sacramento, California to Leland and Faye Fowler. Charles spent his early years in Curtis Park, a suburb of Sacramento. He grew up with his sister, Shirley, and brother, Donald. In 1940, Charles’ parents purchased a 14-acre parcel in Glenbrook between Grass Valley and Nevada City. It was in this location that they built a complete sawmill and retail lumber yard. Builders and Consumers Lumber Company was born. While the facility was being built, Leland moved the family from Curtis Park to Glenbrook. It was there that they built a beautiful home on the corner of West Olympia Drive and Nevada City Hwy. This was just next door to the lumber yard.

In 1950, Charles met Cecilia (Cece) Gallino. Cece was the youngest of ten children in a robust Italian family that lived in Hills Flat. Charles immediately fell in love with Cece and her family and they were married on June 24, 1951. Together they built their home on Ridge Road in Nevada City. In November of 1952 they welcomed their first and only child, Kimberly. Over the years, Charles remodeled the home and made many improvements. Both Charles and Cece’s wishes were honored and they both passed away in their beloved home that they shared for 57 years.

Charles and his brother Don helped their parents run Builders and Consumers Lumber Company. When Leland passed away in 1963, the brothers formed a partnership as Chardon Corporation DBA Builders and Consumers Lumber Company.

In 1985 the idea of the Fowler Shopping Center was born. Charles recalled a conversation his father had with him envisioning many stores on the land. When the center was built Charles and Don decided to shorten the company name to B & C. The company went from B & C True Value Home and Garden Center to what it is today, B & C Ace Home and Garden Center. Since 1996 the company has been owned by Charles daughter and son in law Kim and Tom Janousek and Dons sons Greg and Gary Fowler. Don passed away in 2003 and Charles officially retired January 1, 2019.

Charles enjoyed traveling abroad and taking trips in the United States and Canada. When he was not traveling, he enjoyed constructing wooden model boats. Many of these were proudly displayed in his office at B & C. He was a dedicated member of Grass Valley Host Lions Club and spent many hours working on projects and fund raising for the Club. He was most proud of his involvement with Hospice of the Foothills and was instrumental in the design and building of the Hospice House in Grass Valley.

Charles is lovingly survived by his daughter and son in law Kim and Tom Janousek, his granddaughter and her husband Katie and Clark Branscum, great granddaughters Lily and Daisy Branscum, and his brother-in-law Leroy Stevens. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Cece, his sister Shirley and brother-in-law George Cooper, brother Don and sister-in-law Marlene Fowler, and his parents Leland and Faye Fowler.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of the Foothills, 11270 Rough & Ready Hwy, Grass Valley, 95945.