Charles (Charlie) Ferris Allen

1942 - 2010

Charles (Charlie) Ferris Allen, 68, of Meadow Vista, Calif., passed away at his home on October 17, 2010, surrounded by family and friends following a long battle with multiple myeloma.
He is survived by his wife, Roslyn Drusch Allen, formerly of Jackson, Miss.; daughter Sarah Elisabeth and grandson Clayton Charles; sister Ida Evans (Ken) of Stockton, Calif.; brothers Roger Allen (Susan) of Oakland, CA; and David Allen (Shirley) of Meadow Vista, Calif., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Charlie was born May 26, 1942, to the late Charles Francis Allen and Elisabeth Ferris Allen in Palo Alto, Calif. He graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School of Atherton, Calif., in 1960. While in high school, he was active in Sea Scouts and attained the rank of Quartermaster. In 1966 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Design from San Jose State University, where he was a member of the gymnastics team. His love of sports continued throughout his life, both as a participant and a spectator. He played softball and volleyball and was an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers and the Sacramento Kings.
Following graduation from college, Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Army and was trained as a forward observer. He served in Nha Trang, Viet Nam, in 1968-1969 and held the rank of 1st Lieutenant and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Most of his professional life was spent as a home repair and renovation specialist. After his retirement in 1999, Charlie moved to Meadow Vista, Calif., where he became active in Native Sons of the Golden West, Auburn Parlor No. 59, serving as President in 2003, and the Auburn Joss House Museum, where he served on the Board and as President.
Charlie was active in the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Project, the Bay Area Garden Railway Society, and the Sacramento Valley Garden Railway Society. His lifelong love affair with model trains continued to occupy much of his time and energy. His incredibly detailed garden railroad layouts were featured in numerous model railroad magazines, and his home became a favorite stop for model railroad enthusiasts everywhere.
He was very interested in local history and was involved in restoring and maintaining historical areas, especially in Old Town Auburn.
As an avid cat fancier, Charlie showed several international award-winning bengals. He was active in The International Cat Association (TICA), helping organize national shows. It was through his association with TICA that he met and married his wife, Roslyn, who became his best friend and the love of his life.
Family was very important to Charlie and he loved special family events, specifically the annual Ravioli Day at Thanksgiving.
Charlie loved life, he loved to laugh and he never met a stranger. His wit, wisdom, talents, energy and the sparkle in his eyes will be cherished by all who were privileged to be a part of his life.
A gathering celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010, at 1 p.m. at the Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 East St, Auburn, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Castaway Animal Sanctuary, P.O. Box 5004, Galt, CA 95632, or the Auburn Joss House Museum, P.O. Box 9126, Auburn, CA 95604.