Dr. Santiago ‘Jim’ Ibarra Jr. of Houston, passed peacefully at home on December 22, 2025 after a long illness. He was born on October 28, 1940, in Hebbronville, Texas to Santiago and Enriquetta C. Ibarra.
Due to his father’s position as a Methodist minister, Jim spent his youth moving between South and West Texas, before settling in Austin, Texas to complete his high school education After graduating with his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Texas El Paso and the University of Arizona respectively, he worked as a Metallurgist for the U.S. Air Force in the Materials Laboratory in San Antonio, Texas during the Vietnam War. Once his service was complete, he then attended the University of Missouri-Rolla, now known as the Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he obtained his doctoral degree in Metallurgical Engineering. It was there where he met the love of his life, Cheryl Gibbons, who was also attending graduate school for her doctoral degree in Mathematics. They were married on June 16, 1973 and celebrated forty-seven years of marriage prior to her death in 2021.
Soon after their wedding, the couple relocated to Pittsburgh, where Jim began his career as a Metallurgical Engineer at Gulf Oil Company. After the birth of their daughter, Kelly Elizabeth, Jim accepted a position as a Senior Metallurgical Engineer at Amoco, and the family relocated to Chicago. Here, Jim was instrumental in the development of welding and non-destructive testing procedures in diverse petrochemical areas such as refining, pipelines, underwater welding, hydrogen cracking control in specialized pressure vessels, and many other applications.
When Amoco merged with British Petroleum (BP) and moved their headquarters from Chicago to Houston, Jim moved his family and mobilized local Houston resources to recreate his technical group. This led to a new chapter in his career as BP began oil exploration in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Deepwater oil and gas exploration presented significant metallurgical, welding, and inspection challenges, and within a few years, Jim transitioned into the leadership of BP’s Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Exploration and Production sector where he provided welding and inspection support to many multi-billion dollar Deepwater projects until he retired in May of 2012.
Jim was a worldwide recognized expert in Metallurgical and Welding Engineering, achieving the highest honors in the field. He was a Fellow of the American Welding Society and the American Society of Metals. He also published numerous technical papers and spoke at many international conferences during his career. He considered himself fortunate to get to see the world while making such significant contributions to his field.
Outside of his career, Jim was a voracious reader, enjoying historical fiction, military history, and numerous biographies of Winston Churchill. He also enjoyed watching and participating in sports, with a particular love for tennis. As an active member of his church, Jim would frequently volunteer to play the piano as part of prison outreach ministries, and he was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. He was also proud to be a Free and Accepted Mason for 51 years, and was a past Master of Plum Creek Lodge No. 799 F. A&M in Pennsylvania. We are certain that faith sustained him during the last few years of his life.
Jim is survived by his daughter Kelly, of Houston, Texas; by his two brothers-in-law: Jack E. Gibbons of Wylie, Texas, and Samuel K. Gibbons (Linda) of Clinton, Missouri; by his niece and four nephews: Janice L. Gibbons, Daniel C. Gibbons (Cathy), Gregory M. Gibbons (Kimberlee), Andrew K. Gibbons (Meghan), and Samuel K. Gibbons Jr.; and by numerous other cousins and friends.
Jim is also survived by Agatha ‘Fay’ Philogene St. Ange, who has lovingly dedicated almost six years of service to his care at his home.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Cheryl Gibbons Ibarra; his parents: Santiago Ibarra Sr. and Enriquetta Chapa Ibarra; his sister-in-law, Judy Gibbons; and his nephew, Jeff E. Gibbons.
Services will be held at J.M. Weirauch Funeral Home in Harrisburg, Illinois on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 1:00pm with burial to follow in Spring Valley Cemetery south of Harrisburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research can be made here.
Dr. S
To send flowers in memory of Dr. Santiago (Jim) Ibarra, Jr., visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Service
2
Jan
211 North Jackson St.
Harrisburg, IL 62946
Visitation
2
Jan
211 North Jackson St.
Harrisburg, IL 62946
Cemetery Details
Location
-
Harrisburg, IL 62946
