Ira A. Webb

Ira A. Webb, 92, of Amarillo, Texas, died on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2021.

Ira A. Webb was born on March 5, 1929 in Chanute, Kansas to parents Ira A. Webb, Sr and Oma Jane McGinnis Webb.  Ira lived in a family with six sisters and two brothers.  At the age of 16, Ira followed in his father’s footsteps as a railroader.  He began his life-long railroad career as a machinist apprentice with the Santa Fe Railroad in Chanute, Kansas.  Upon completion of his apprenticeship, Ira was transferred to Galveston, Texas, where he was later drafted into the Army on August 1951.  Ira was honorably discharged from active duty in August 1953, and then transferred to the Military Reserves for 6 more years.

Ira met his future wife, Joyce Elaine Peterson, at a church in Galveston, Texas.  He discovered Joyce lived only a block away from where he rented a room.  After enjoying church activities and square dance parties, Ira decided to ask Joyce to marry him.  Joyce turned 18 on May 8, and they married on June 11, 1951. They celebrated their 70th  Anniversary this year.

While in the Army, Ira and Joyce were stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado and at Fort McArthur in California. Son Steven was born at the base hospital in Colorado.  They returned to Galveston and Ira resumed his work as a machinist in the Sante Fe Railroad shops.  Daughter Susan was born shortly afterward. They moved to a home in LaMarque, Texas that year.

In 1956, Ira accepted a promotion to Assistant Supervisor of Diesel Engines and was transferred to Ft. Madison, Iowa. He was transferred again to Corwith, Illinois and later to Chillicothe, Illinois where he was promoted to Mechanical Foreman. Daughter Sharon was born in Illinois.

After many years in Illinois, in 1968, Ira and family moved back to Galveston where he was promoted to General Foreman. Ira finished his career with Santa Fe Railroad in Pearland, Tx as a Supervisor after 40 years of service keeping the train engines running and field directing engine derailment resets.  Ira retired living in Pasadena, Texas.

In 1999, He and Joyce moved to a new home in Amarillo, Texas to be close to kids and grandkids.   At work and in retirement, Ira was a master mechanic and helped family and friends with auto and home repair projects.  While Joyce taught piano, Ira would entertain the students before the lessons and spend time in his shop making large outdoor Christmas decorations for family members. He also enjoyed making “Bear” piggy banks for great grandkids.  Ira and Joyce loved to travel and took many travelling vacations and ship cruises here and abroad with family members and friends.

Ira is preceded in death by his mother and father (Oma Jane Webb and Ira A. Webb, SR); four sisters (Lorena Eastman, Iris Welter, Ora Ella Wagner and Stella Fern Webb); two brothers (Lloyd Webb and Leroy Webb) and one great-grandson  (Easton Ray Bryant).

Ira is survived by his wife (Joyce Elaine Peterson Webb); son (Steven Webb and wife Nancy); two daughters (Susan Barron and husband Eddie; and Sharon Bryant and husband Danny); Four grandchildren (Jason, Janna, Cody and Jake) and three great grandchildren (Kensi, Kate and Hailey).

Service will be held at LaGrone Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home at 8310 S. Coulter Road Amarillo, Texas at 11 am Saturday November 20th .