The celebration of life for Charley Brown will stream here on Saturday, November 15th at 1pm

Charley Brown - Celebration of Life
Saturday, November 15th at 1pm
Parkside Community Church & Streaming Online

Charley Brown was born on January 14, 1937 in Marysville, CA, the youngest of three sons born to Willard R. Brown and Sarah Derby Brown, who also raised a chosen daughter. He was baptized at Fairview Community Christian Church in 1950, graduated from East Nicholas High School in 1955, and from Sacramento State College in 1959, with a BA in Education.

Charley served in the National Guard, and had a long career in education. This included two years at the American Military School in Japan, Elementary School in Georgetown, CA – where he also drove a school bus; 5th and 6th grades in Center Joint, CA; and Special Education in the San Juan School District in Sacramento County.

On April 3, 1966 Charley married Margaret R. Campbell in Oroville, CA, and shared his life and many adventures with her for over 59 years.

He and Margaret joined Parkside Community Church in 1982, where Charley served on the Building and Grounds Commission, and served for several years as Church Treasurer – writing a computer program to generate a spreadsheet for the treasurer’s reports. For many years he was the Parkside representative to the SSIP Food Pantry Board, volunteered many hours in food distribution, and was instrumental in planning the construction of the current Food Pantry building. He and Margaret were also part of Parkside’s first mission trip to Costa Rica.

Charley loved the outdoors. He loved sailing – whether it was in Japan, or in the Delta or San Francisco Bay with Margaret, in one or another of the several boats they owned over the years, including one they took on their travels around the country.

Charley was also an avid fisherman, who was happy to fish in either a lake or a river; a downhill skier who had been on the Ski Patrol as a young man; a hiker & backpacker; a small plane pilot; and a photographer.

Charley and Margaret traveled extensively, including driving to Alaska twice in a van. After the rustic camping of the Alaska trips they acquired a travel trailer, which they towed all over the country, accompanied by one of the several dogs they owned over the years – who sadly had to stay home during Charley and Margaret’s international travels.

Charley Brown had a generous spirit, and a lively sense of humor, including his amusement at sharing his name with a well-known comic book character. In the last years of his life, as the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease increased, Charley’s spirit remained vibrant. He did not want to slow down; he did not want to miss out on his daily walks; he wanted to go out and do things; and he really thought that he and Margaret should get another dog.

Charley died on October 18, 2025 at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gordon. Surviving family members include his wife, Margaret; his brother, Leland; his sister, Beverly Cleveland; five nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and great nephews.