Roger Stockbridge Obituary, Death And Funeral Visitation

Roger Stockbridge Obituary, Death – Roger Stockbridge Having passed away on May 22nd, 2023 Around the year 1990, shortly after I began competing in IPSC shooting, I was introduced to Roger Stockbridge. This was back in the days before the Internet, when Wingate Park still had a shooting range, and Roger was still employed by Ford. Roger was always nice, always helpful, and guided me in many different ways over the years. His wife, Rita (Reets), was the SAPSA administrator working closely with the late General Earp. Two little lads, Austen and Guy, were not even shooting at the time. When I first began to consider purchasing a progressive reloading press, the only colors I ‘know’ were red and green. Roger shared with me information on Dillon’s blue press and the powder check system, and those conversations were the first step on a path that ultimately lead me to found the company I run today, Shooting Stuff.

My career in competition shooting was steered in the right direction by Roger, who was always eager to act as a mentor to me and occasionally show me who was in charge! Once again, Roger was able to assist me by getting the Ford engineers to step in and aid while I was having interminable issues with my Ford bakkie. A gentleman in every respect. The vast majority of Roger’s incredible talent was passed down to his sons, Austen and Guy. Both of them have inherited their father’s talent as a marksman. I have no doubt that the family’s triumph at the 2002 IPSC World Shoot, in which Roger, Austen, Guy, and Justin Naidoo competed as a team and won the Modified Division, is one of the most memorable events in the Stockbridge household.

Austen was named World Champion after the competition. Rog was really pleased with everything that they had accomplished together throughout that year. Roger was a skilled pistol builder and a passionate collector of firearms. He had a particular affinity for Colt and Winchester firearms in particular. Roger was one of those men who just knew stuff, and he had a lot of intelligence. Because of this, he was able to give many intriguing talks at our Collectors’ meetings, where he generously offered his extensive knowledge, most of the time with a healthy dose of his trademark dry English wit.