Robert Ross Ingersoll

Robert Ross Ingersoll, known to his friends as Bob, went home to heaven on February 19, 2024, after a battle with cancer. Bob, the first son of C. Roy Ingersoll and Ramona Netzel Ingersoll, was born in Watsonville, California on July 15, 1952. Bob dedicated his life to his family, community, and later on, his church.
In high school, Bob played football and was a member of the Watsonville Wildcats wrestling team. Following high school graduation, in 1971, Bob was drafted to the U.S. Army Reserve and served in the 382nd Military Police Detachment, Sergeant / E-5 until 1977. Bob held many jobs over the years but dedicated over 35 years as a police officer in the cities of Coalinga, Seaside, and Del Rey Oaks. At the end of his career, he retired as a sergeant for Del Rey Oaks Police Department. One of his greatest achievements was operating his own martial arts studio, Defensive Arts Academy, providing self-defense instruction for adults, teens, and children. He held a 6th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido, with over 30 years of training beginning as a teenager in Watsonville, traveling to Korea, and around the United States. In 1997, he was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and in 2001, was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame. In addition to training those in the art of self-defense, he also researched and developed specialized training courses for local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In addition to this training, his company, Operational Skills Group, LLC, provided protective security for those in and around the Monterey Peninsula.
While Bob had many professional achievements, his greatest joy was being a husband, father, and grandfather. Bob prioritized spending time with his family and enjoyed creating memories with those he loved the most. In 1992, he married Diana, with his son Josh, standing by his side as his best man. At the start of their relationship, Bob enjoyed taking Diana on long motorcycle rides on the California Coast and weekend-long camping trips in the mountains where he loved to spend his time fly fishing. In 1994, Diana and Bob welcomed their daughter, Jade Ramona. As a family of four, they traveled to the Philippines, Australia, and around California on several camping trips. Bob enjoyed taking his son around on patrol ride-a-longs, teaching him to fish, and enjoying a day at the shooting range. In 2020, Bob and his son Josh completed the 26.2-mile Bataan Death March Memorial Walk in New Mexico. A dedicated father to both his kids, Bob embodied everything it was to be a "girl dad" and gave it his all when raising his daughter, Jade Ramona. With Jade, Bob enjoyed going to concerts (Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan, to name a few), thrifting, teaching her how to build things for her home, and accompanying each other to the tattoo shop. In 2019, Bob was promoted to Papa and welcomed his first grandson, Benjamin Roy, and in 2022, a granddaughter, Elnora Diana. Being a Papa was his greatest role yet and stepped into the position with grace. His grandchildren, kept him fighting the cancer until the very end.
Bob is survived by his wife of 31 years, Diana of Seaside; son, Josh of Merced, CA and daughter, Jade Ramona (Joseph) of Oakland, CA. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Benjamin Roy and Elnora Diana of Oakland; and his brother David Ingersoll (Nelly) of Watsonville CA. Lastly, he leaves behind his faithful companion, Colt the Rottweiler.
Visitation will be held 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. Friday, March 1, 2024 at Struve and Laporte Chapel, 41 W. San Luis St. Salinas, Ca. 93901.
Rosary will be 6:00p.m. Friday, March 1, 2024 at Struve and Laporte Chapel.
Funeral Mass will be 11:00a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1 Railroad Avenue. Spreckels, Ca. 93962
In lieu of flowers, Bob's wish was for all donations to be given in his name to the American Cancer Society to continue the research efforts to find a cure for Leiomyosarcoma cancer.