Charles "Charlie" C. Fletcher

Charles “Charlie” C. Fletcher, 96, well known, long time resident of Cleveland, moved on in his journey in the early Sunday morning hours of July 22, 2018. He passed finding peace in his sleep.  

Born April 1, 1922 in Gastonia, NC, Charlie lived a full 96 years on this earth. He lived an interesting and very active life every step of the way. It can truly be said about Charlie that he never met a stranger. Throughout his life, wherever he lived, and whatever he was involved with, Charlie made many friends.

Charlie grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina with his mother (Ellen), father (Talmadge), brother (T. P.), sister (Levitta), and sister (Louise).  Nearing the end of the Great Depression, when Charlie was 17 years old, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and worked in the mountains of western NC and east TN helping build roads and bridges in the new Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On December 19, 1942 Charlie entered the US Army at Camp Croft, SC. He served 3 years and 28 days in the army. During World War Two, Charlie spent two years in Europe. While in Europe, he performed duties with the Red Ball Express in the Third Army in Northern France and Charlie was actively engaged in the Battle of the Bulge with the Third Army.  In December 1945 Charlie was discharged from the army.

From 1945 until 1952 he worked at Champion Paper Mill in Canton, NC. In 1952, Charlie moved to Cleveland TN and began working during the construction and opening of the Bowater Paper Corporation Plant, Calhoun, TN.  Charlie worked 32 years as an electrician and in the Electrical Engineering Department at Bowater. In 1984, Charlie retired from Bowater.

After his retirement from Bowater until his passing, Charlie was passionately engaged in many pursuits. Among other activities, Charlie was active with the Shriners, liked to build things, enjoyed helping people, enjoyed telling stories, and liked to go fishing. Charlie built and placed bluebird boxes on all the golf courses in Cleveland, TN as well as in many of his friend’s yards. He made hundreds of clocks, and many pieces of furniture for people after he retired. In November 2004, Charlie’s wife of 58 years, Bonnie Marie, passed on. After Marie passed, Charlie spent a great deal of his time writing and self publishing books about his life’s experiences and memories. During his last 14 years Charlie wrote and self published eight books as well as published four books for other people. Charlie referred to himself not as a writer but as a story teller. He was passionate about sharing stories of all his experiences, stories of the way he lived as he grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina, and stories of all the many changes he had seen during his 96 years. He was a member of North Cleveland Baptist Church.

Charlie is survived by his sons, Gary Fletcher of Hendersonville, NC and Dean Fletcher of Canton, GA; brother, T. P. Fletcher of Canton, NC; sister, Louise Fletcher of Gastonia, NC; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 in the chapel of Fike-Randolph and Son Funeral Home with Dr. Jay McCluskey officiating.  A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at Crawford-Ray Memorial Gardens in Clyde NC.  Ed Boring, Jerry Peters, Ben Fletcher, Josh Fletcher, William Fletcher and Sarah Fletcher will serve as pallbearers. 

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home prior to the service. 

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Fletcher family guest book at fikefh.com.