Charles B. Fletcher

Charles B. Fletcher CLAREMONT — Charles B. Fletcher, 84, of Claremont New Hampshire went home on December 10, 2022 with his family by his side, after a long hard fought battle with kidney disease. He was born May 9, 1938 in Claremont, NH, the son of Herbert and Dorothy (Slater) Fletcher and was a lifetime resident. He was a 1956 graduate of Stevens High School and completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in 1989. Charlie was the quintessential jack of all trades, holding several different positions in life. He was one of the original cable men in Claremont, installing and building out the city’s original cable television network. He also tried his hand as a Law Enforcement Officer for a short time until one day, while directing traffic, he created such a traffic jam, he walked back to his cruiser and said “They’ll figure it out on their own”. Being from a family of builders, he was also a local General Contractor and Finish Carpenter extraordinaire. Having been a call firefighter since high school, he was hired full time at the CFD in 1971, igniting his true passion in life. He absolutely loved, lived, and breathed firefighting. Serving the city of Claremont for over 20 years as a professional firefighter, he rose to the rank of Assistant Chief. While at the CFD, he was the local training officer and state certified rescue diver. He completed a multi year course becoming an Executive Fire Officer for the National Fire Academy and New Hampshire state instructor for Fire Officer Certifications. Of all the places Charlie visited, he loved the small town of Claremont, and couldn’t see himself growing up or living anywhere else. He enjoyed scuba diving, camping, canoeing, and kayaking. A history buff in general, he gravitated to the Civil War era and had visited over 90% of the battlefields. Charlie always had a very demanding and serious professional life, but he always managed to take time out during the summer for family fun camping all over the Northeast, hanging around the family pool, or boating and skiing on Lake Sunapee. Charlie married Janice (Giguere) in 1963 with whom he spent 59 wonderful years and had three children. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janice; two daughters, Kathie Allen and her husband Matt of Ohio, Karen Donofrio and her husband Gary of Waynesville, Missouri; one son, Kevin Fletcher of Cabot, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Justin, and Kaleigh; four great-grandchildren, Juliana, Bailey, Connor, and Bianka. Charlie was preceeded in death by his father Herbert, mother Dorothy, an infant brother, and daughter-in-law Karen. P.S. The children of this patriarch want to say a very heartfelt and blessed thank you to his bonus daughter, Debra Gierko, who has been there watching out for both Charlie and Janice. Friends may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont, NH on Friday evening, December 16th from 5 to 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church in Claremont, NH on Saturday morning, December 17th at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. To view an online memorial or send a private message of condolence please visit www.stringerfh.com.