Denis George Fowler
Oct. 7, 1941-Jan. 25, 2022

George was born on October 7, 1941 in Orpington, Kent, England to John and Margaret “Peg” Fowler. He was the eldest of four siblings — two brothers, Alfred Micheal and David Joseph, and a sister, Margaret.

George was full of wanderlust as a young man. After some time in the Merchant Navy he soon knew that was not the life for him. He headed off on many adventures, traveling through western Europe, the Middle East, parts of North Africa and Australia. Some of his favorite places were Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and India — settling in India and meeting the love of his life, his wife, Sydell, at a full moon party on the beaches in Goa. They quickly fell in love and decided to return with her to her native United States, where they were married at the chapel of the UN in New York City, moving upstate to Rhinebeck and birthing their first child, Jonathan Moe Fowler, in 1976.

Shortly after the birth they both realized that was not their final destination. They packed up their belongings in an old van to head west, picking up a VW camper in Florida and headed to California. They had friends in Bolinas, where they met up with some of the great characters they had originally met in India. They followed some friends up to Bell Springs Road and eventually moved farther north to Humboldt County and landed on China Creek Road, outside of Briceland Ca. This is where they birthed their second child, Harvest Jhoti Fowler, in 1978.

Spending many years as back-to-landers, George built a home for his family, doing most of the work himself with help from neighbors, as many did. After many years living on the land George and Sydell decided it was time to move to town and purchased a house in Redway, where they birthed their third child, Eli George Fowler, in 1984.

Known to many as “English George,” he deeply rooted himself into the Southern Humboldt community, helping lay stone work for Beginnings, Inc and the Mateel Community Center. George was an accomplished bricklayer and rock worker, a registered caregiver and even a census taker in the early 2000s.

George was a dedicated father to his children. Many will remember him taking his eldest, Jojo, to motorcycle races around California and helping man the gates at the Phillipsville motocross track. George was a dedicated soccer coach, starting in the youth league and coaching his son Eli all the way up to the South Fork High School level. When Eli graduated he went back to Youth Rec League and coached many kids for over 20 years. His last years of coaching he proudly coached his eldest grandson, Brock Fowler, for several years. He spent many hours maintaining the Redway soccer field and started an adults game on Sundays. He played, he coached, and he watched soccer for the majority of the second half of his life. George was a dedicated Liverpool fan until his last moments. When George retired from coaching the league decided to dedicate Redway field in his name, naming it “Fowler Field.”

George was very physically fit and enjoyed going to the gym and to cross fit with his daughter in-law Piper. Piper and George went on many adventures together, including hiking Kings Peaks multiple times with different groups of friends. You could regularly catch him at a women’s league softball game watching his daughter Harvest play while socializing with other spectators.

George’s final pride and joy came from his five grandchildren. He spent many hours volunteering at school and community events. He proudly earned the name Papa George around Redway school, frequently picking his grandchildren Brody and Kendall up from school and walking them home.

George transitioned from this world in the early hours of Tuesday January 25, 2022. He spent his last days surrounded by the love of his family being supported while he moved on. He was a loving husband who really enjoyed his wife’s cooking, a dedicated father and grandfather, a brother, a son, and a friend who never missed an opportunity to have a chat or share a laugh. He had a charming accent and a wonderful sense of humor and he will be deeply missed by all that knew him.

He is preceded in death by his father, John Fowler, and his mother, Peg Fowler. George leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Sydell, his three children Jonathan (PIPER) Harvest, and Eli. His five grandchildren, Brock Brody, Kendall, Bayla and Braxton. He also leaves behind his two brothers Mick (MARY) and Dave (Beryl), his sister Margagret and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews in England who love him and will miss him very much.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of George Fowler’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.