Dr. Robert "Gary" Carbaugh

Dr. Robert "Gary" Carbaugh, 87, died Tuesday afternoon (February 17, 2026) at Hospice House Satilla.

Gary was born December 4, 1938, in Chambersburg, PA to the late Robert Kaufman and Elsie Pugh Carbaugh. He graduated from Chambersburg Area Senior High School in 1956 and attended Florida Southern College. He attained his Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine and was an anesthesiology resident in Tampa, FL.

Dr. Carbaugh served in the United States Army where he rose to the rank of Major and was the Chief Anesthesiologist and Operating Services Director at the Tuttle U.S. Army Hospital in Savannah. Gary and his family moved to Waycross in 1971 where he worked at Satilla Regional Medical Center for 34 years and was the Chief of Anesthesiology from 1992–2001.

People who worked with Dr. Carbaugh or received his services described him as a kind, calm, and compassionate doctor.

He was a member of Waycross First United Methodist Church and the Rosicrucian Order. He loved reading, gardening, listening to classical music, and watching James Bond movies and westerns. He and his wife Kathy loved to travel, spend time with their family, and relax at their beach house on Jekyll Island.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Katherine Bryan Carbaugh of Waycross, GA; his four children, Anne Reuben (David) of Marietta, GA, Robert Carbaugh Jr. of Waycross, GA, Chris Carbaugh (Betsy) of Blackshear, GA, and Jennifer Iyer (Sanjay) of Charlotte, NC; seven grandchildren, Katherine and Alanna Reuben, Cason, Kelly, and Holly Anne Carbaugh, and Jaya and Shiv Iyer; siblings Judy Steerman (John) of Chambersburg, PA, Donna (Jim) Babb of Umatilla, FL, Daryl Carbaugh of Eustis, FL, and Dottie Long of Tavares, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service will be held at Music Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that memorial donations be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way Waycross, GA 31501.