The Rev. Eva Meneses Ibarra

The Rev. Eva Meneses Ibarra, 78, of Eloy died March 24, 2009 at home.


One service was at 6 p.m. Thursday at Glad Tidings Church in Casa Grande. Visitation was from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Valley Chapel in Eloy. A graveside service followed at 11 in Eloy Memorial Park. The Rev. Alfredo Resendez and Dr. Anthony Martinez officiated.

The Rev. Ibarra was born Oct. 18, 1930 in Kingsville, Texas, and was a daughter of the Rev. Jose and Cornella Meneses. She was a homemaker and loved to cook for her family, sing Christian music and spend time with the children in her family. When her husband died in 1980, she took over as pastor of Templo Cristiano Assembly of God in Picacho. She loved helping others and praying for them.

Survivors include three daughters, Janie Salazar and Mary Cruz of Eloy and Olga Ibarra of Casa Grande; seven sons, Raul, Joe, Paul, John, Oscar and Felipe Ibarra Jr., all of Eloy, and Horacio "Otis" Ibarra of Picacho; three brothers, Ben Meneses of Alaska, John Meneses of Mesa and Art Meneses of Woodville, Calif.; 29 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Felipe S. Ibarra Sr.; a daughter, Naomi Ibarra; and two sisters, Tabitha Martinez and Agripina Vega.