Robert Carbaugh

Robert Carbaugh was born in 1916 in Cleveland, Ohio and received his music education in the Chicago area.  He was graduated from Wheaton College with a B.A. in music in 1938 and attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago the following year. He met his wife Helen Dobbins ('39) in the Wheaton College orchestra and together they had three daughters: Lynn, Ann, and Carol. After graduation from Chicago's Conservatory of Music, Carbaugh received a call to be the music director of the Honolulu Bible Training Institute. He served in that capacity until 1953 and also superintended the school, served Mid-Pacific Institute as music director, led the choir at Kaimuki Evangelical Church, founded and directed the Honolulu Junior Symphony and played first violin with the Honolulu Symphony and in the Liebecht chamber music series. Carbaugh was hired in 1954 by Moody Bible Institute's Music Department which lasted 27 years. In Chicago, Carbaugh founded the Moody Women's Glee Club, pioneered one of the early handbell choirs in America, led the first Men's Glee Club, conducted the initial oratorio chorus and conceived the Christmas time Candlelight Carols.  Meanwhile he taught, conducted and served as minister of music for ten years at Moody Church where Helen was organist. At the 1981 Moody Founder's Day ceremony, Bob was awarded the school's Alumni Faculty Citation. He made piano tuning mission trips on the Caribbean island of Bonaire and in Equador. Even after a heart condition speeded retirement, Carbaugh played violin in churches: Willow Creek, Moody, and his home Orchard Evangelical Free. Robert C. Carbaugh died at age 94 on July 7, 2009.