Barbara Carbaugh, a beloved resident of Nederland and Baytown, TX, passed away with her husband Donnie Carbaugh by her side early on April 19, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Schmidt; mother, Bennie Palmer; father, Gene Palmer; sister, Marie Lester, and brother, Hal Palmer. She is survived by her husband, Donnie Carbaugh, and sons, Douglas Schmidt and Bryan Schmidt. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Ashli Schmidt, Brooke Legens, Beaux Schmidt, Triston Schmidt, and Addison Schmidt; and 4 great-grandchildren; Bowen, Brody, and Baker Legens, and Jaxon Schmidt.
Born in Nederland, she graduated from Nederland High School in 1957, attended East Texas Baptist University, and graduated from Lamar University. Barbara became a music teacher and then married Bruce Wayne Schmidt, and together they raised two loving sons. Douglas followed her passion for music and teaching and resides in the Dallas area, while Bryan embraced his father's path working at the refinery and stayed close to home in Baytown. Both are self admittedly mama’s boys. She lost her husband Bruce, after 34 years of marriage, suddenly on Thanksgiving Day in 2000. Barbara was blessed enough to find love and companionship a few years later and married Donnie Carbaugh, a lifelong friend. Barbara appreciated Donnie’s humor, mind, and his incredible artistic talent and they shared some wonderful years loving and supporting each other.
Barbara worked as a teacher in the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District for most of her career in education. As the music teacher at Carver Jones Elementary, Mrs. Schmidt, touched the lives of thousands of kids in Baytown. She could not go anywhere in Baytown without running into former students who lovingly remembered their time in her classroom.
One thing is certain, Barbara's heart overflowed with pride for her five grandchildren, Ashli, Brooke, Beaux, Triston, & Addie. She cherished every moment with them and delighted in sharing stories with anyone who would lend an ear and sharing pictures with anyone that visited her at home.
As the first captain of the Nederland High School Westernaires, Barbara made history in her community, leaving an indelible mark. Her legacy lives on through her grandchildren, two of whom inherited her passion for dance. Brooke, a former Dallas Mavericks dancer, now imparts her knowledge as the Dance Coach at Middle Tennessee State University, while Addison “her baby grandchild” currently graces the field as a Kilgore Rangerette.
Barbara also had a special connection with her first grandchild, Ashli, and frequently shared how proud she was of the person and mother she had become. She appreciated Ashli’s humor and forgiving soul. She loved the boys and was always interested in what they were doing and loved sharing stories about them as well. She would talk about how proud she was of Triston working in Colorado and share stories of what he was doing in his daily life. She was proud of Beaux for following his dreams in Nashville as a fulltime musician and was so proud when he had the opportunity recently to perform at The Ryman Theatre. Her family was without question the most important part of her life.
Her involvement in the Baptist Church, both in Nederland and Baytown, underscored her deep faith and commitment to her church family. She found joy playing the piano, organ, and singing in the adult choirs and Silvertones. She cherished so many bonds formed there over the years.
Joyful, energetic, and always willing to talk, Barbara's presence lit up every room she entered. Her unwavering love, loyalty, trustworthiness, and resilience endeared her to all who knew her. Intelligent and beautiful inside and out, Barbara leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter that will be remembered fondly by all who were fortunate enough to have known her.