1942-2026
Dr. Curtis Carroll Yarbrough, 84, of Madisonville formerly of Webster and Muhlenberg Counties passed away at his home Saturday, April 11, 2026. He was the son of the late Reverend Carroll Wesley Yarbrough and Mary Leslie (Glore) Yarbrough, born January 14, 1942, in Providence Kentucky.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Pauletta (Mooney) Yarbrough, and their daughter, Dr. Rachel Yarbrough.
Throughout his adult life, he shared his Christian faith through full-time ministry as a pastor and evangelist of several General Baptist churches in western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and Michigan. For 51 years, he was called to lead congregations at Hopkinsville GB Church (Hopkinsville), Concord GB Church (Manitou), New Testament (Flint, MI), Clay GB Church (Clay), Duvall’s Chapel GB (Greenville), Star/ Pleasant Valley GB Church (Eldorado, IL), Joines Chapel GB (Clifty), Interim at White Oak GB (Clay), and Little Zion GB (Dixon).
Dr. Yarbrough served on the Oakland City University (IN) Board of Trustees for 40 years; served on the Webster County Board of Education for 6 years; served as the Moderator for the General Association of General Baptists; and served on the General Board for General Baptists. He was active in each ministerial association in the communities he served.
Dr. Yarbrough and his family are advocates for the Webster County School District and the Webster County High School’s Future Farmers of America providing a land lab for agriculture students and awarding scholarships to local graduates.
He is remembered as a man committed to God, his family, his friends and his community.
He was predeceased by his mother and father, his brother Richard Yarbrough, and sisters Diana Tinkle and Jenny Rowe.
In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by his sister Linda Ray Simpkins; brother-in-law Aubrey R. (Sally) Mooney; nephews: Marty (Pam) Rowe, Dean (Tina) Rowe, Chris (Amy) Rowe, Dawayne (Polly) Yarbrough, Matthew (Kristin) Mooney; nieces: Penny (Steve) Jarvis, Michelle Yarbrough, Missy (Mark) Calloway, Jenni (Larry) Shadowen, and Leslie (Brendan) Mooney; and 24 great nephews and nieces.
A celebration of Dr. Curtis C. Yarbrough’s journey of life will be Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Mt. Gilead General Baptist Church near Slaughters Kentucky. Friends may call at the church Tuesday evening April 14th, 2026, from 4:00-8:00PM, and from 9:00AM until service time on Wednesday at the church. Interment will be at Oddfellow Cemetery, Clay, KY. In lieu of flowers, the family request contributions be made to Hospice of Western KY, 2914 Old Hartford Rd, Owensboro, KY 42303 or General Baptist Ministries – Designated Gift: Faith Home, Honduras. Townsend Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.townsendfuneralhomeinc.com
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”
II Timothy 4:7-8
