Mr. Stephen John Doddridge

Services for Mr. Stephen John Doddridge will be Friday, December 16, 2022 at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home located at 18000 I-45 South, The Woodlands, Texas 77384. The service will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Grand Hall. Following the service, the family would like to express their love for you by having you join them for a reception in the R.L. Wood Event Room.

Stephen was born on the 27th of September 1971, in Modbury, Devon, England as the fourth child of Frances and John Doddridge. He died suddenly and tragically at his home in The Woodlands, Texas, on the 2nd of December, 2022. That day, the world lost a dearly beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, great-uncle, and ‘mate.’

Growing up, Stephen's brothers Michael, Nicholas, and sister Deborah believed he arrived into the world via a briefcase after the midwife joked she was carrying Stephen in the bag whilst she walked into the family home ready to help with the delivery.

As a child, Stephen attended Modbury Primary School and Ivybridge Community College. Stephen was always interested in how things worked and would often be found taking his brother's toys apart. Unfortunately for his brothers, he never quite managed to figure out how to put them back together again. This fascination continued when he attended Ivybridge school. He even once hacked into the school's computer system in an attempt to get a “better understanding” of how it worked. Needless to say, this excuse didn’t go down well with his teachers.

He attended the University of Plymouth, earning his Master’s in Electrics and Electronic Engineering with a particular interest in semiconductor engineering and communications. During this time, he completed an internship placement with Hewlett-Packard and remained with the company for nearly 30 years. It was during this placement that he met and married Jane. They eventually settled in Tencin, France, and had two beautiful children, Luc (2004) and Katie (2006). Stephen loved to take the children on drives through the Swiss Alps, racing through twists and turns in his treasured Audi TT as they giggled in the backseat.

Steve was a brilliant strategist and planner in the technology field, dedicating his entire career to HP. His evolving roles were always a labor of love and an inspiration to those eager to follow their own dreams. Always forward-thinking about the future of tech, his coworkers, who became family, called him “Nostradamus.” He built personal relationships worldwide with major companies in his leadership role with the technical consultant team and his role as the first-ever EMEA Chief Technologist. He was always eager to share his genuine love and passion for all things tech. He was also a clever engineer, taking apart machines and tinkering with circuit boards even during his downtime.

Always willing to collaborate and mentor coworkers, Steve left a legacy. He was the man to tell you what you needed to know- not necessarily what you wanted to hear- always delivered in a reassuring British accent.

Stephen met his wife, Jessica, in 2016 in Houston, Texas, while in town for work. Despite many factors that almost derailed their chance meeting, the universe aligned they became inseparable from the moment they met. Jessica was driving a Chevy Camaro, and it remains a mystery if the girl or the American muscle car initially won Steve’s heart. They were married overlooking Lake Tahoe, California, in May 2017 and called The Woodlands home with their daughters Jayci and Audrey and their fur babies Cooper, Shelby, and Enzo Ferrari.

Stephen is preceded in death by his eldest brother, Michael (Emma). Survivors include his wife Jessica (Jayci and Audrey), children Katie and Luc (Jane), father John and mother Frances, siblings Deborah (Nick) and Nicholas (Denise), nieces and nephews Daniella (Kris), Jake (Lauren), Naomi (James) and Kieran, great-niece and nephew Rowan and Willow, and fur-babies Cooper, Shelby, and Enzo. He is missed terribly but impossible to forget.

Every year, an estimated 703,000 people take their life (World Health Organization, 2022). Each suicidal death is a public health concern that profoundly impacts those around them. By raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide, and encouraging well-informed action, we can reduce instances of suicide around the world. We can all play a role in supporting those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by suicide, whether as a member of society, as a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a colleague, or as a person with lived experience. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide free, confidential support by phone or text at 988.

Please share your fond memories and kind expressions of sympathy for the Doddridge family at forestparkthewoodlands.com.

Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home is honored to serve this family.