Paul Myers Carbaugh

Paul M. Carbaugh, born in Auburn, Indiana, on February 11, 1930, to Charles and Ethel (Myers) Carbaugh, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2024, at the age of 94, with his daughter by his side at Franke Tobey Jones.
Paul attended Auburn High School and pursued higher education at the University of Michigan and Purdue University, where he earned a B.S. in Forestry. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean conflict.
Paul's forestry career led him to Oregon, where he worked tirelessly as a young forester on some of Oregon and Washington's most notorious forest fires. It was during the Great Forks fire in 1951 that he met Joanne Gilkison, who he later married.
Paul and Joanne lived in Burns, Oregon, until Joanne was diagnosed with Cushing's disease. They then relocated to Tacoma, Washington, to be closer to medical facilities. Paul continued his work with the U.S. Forest Service, ultimately serving as the Chief of Forestry and Land Management at Ft. Lewis until his retirement.
A devout Christian, Paul was a committed husband and father, known for his unwavering generosity, selflessness, patience, and dedication to the needs of others. He lived his faith every day by performing small acts of kindness. The youngest of his siblings, Paul was quiet and shy by nature. When he sold his home in North Tacoma and moved to the Franke Tobey Jones independent living apartments in 2018, he had to make new friends and acquaintances. He became known as the sweet man with the corniest jokes, creating a routine of sharing one silly joke every day after lunch.
In November 2023, Paul suffered a serious fall and was diagnosed with previously undetected congestive heart failure. He passed away six months later, entering heaven to join his wife, Joanne.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife Joanne, his brothers Harley, Howard, and Bob, and his sister Charlene. He is survived by his daughter, Juanita Carbaugh, and numerous nieces and nephews.
His daughter expresses deep gratitude to Franke Tobey Jones and Franciscan Hospice for treating Paul with dignity and tenderness during his final days. Donations in Paul's memory can be made to either of these organizations or a different organization of your choice.
Franke Tobey Jones: https://www.franketobeyjones.com/give-volunteer/ways-to-give/
Franciscan Hospice: https://www.vmfh.org/our-foundations/franciscan-foundation
A celebration of Paul's life will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 1:30 PM in the Lillian Pratt building on the Franke Tobey Jones campus. All who knew Paul are welcome to attend and honor his memory.
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