Dotte Baity Garbe

Dotte Baity Garbe, 70, passed away peacefully at her home on May 23, 2026 after a brief and courageous battle with cancer.

Dotte was born on November 4, 1955 at City Hospital to the late Wilsie Gray Baity and Dorothy Kiger Baity. She was a graduate of Forbush High School and Converse College, where she majored in interior design. Following college, she had an acclaimed career as an interior designer, achieving an ASID certfication and working for Sosniks Furniture, Alma Desk and VASA America, Inc. as well as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She later met and married the love of her life, Kurt Garbe and they lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia for many years before settling in two different communities – their winter paradise in Palm Beach Gardens, FL and their summer home in Banner Elk, NC.

In addition to her passion for interior design, Dotte loved to travel, to garden, and to spend time entertaining family and friends. She was very social in both of her communities- planning and coordinating many social gatherings and holiday functions for her friends and neighbors. She also loved animals of all kinds and had many cherished pets throughout her life.

Dotte was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Kurt Garbe and sister, Betty Kiger Chandler as well as niece Kathryn Perry. Surviving are her sister, Carolyn Baity Barksdale (Lee), brother-in- law William M. Chandler, niece Holland Barksdale Ferguson (Ian), nephew Henry Lee Barksdale, III (Megan), niece Kelly Chandler and niece Karen Bruno. She is also survived by her great nieces Baity Grantham Barksdale, Henley Gray Barksdale and Lucille Locke Ferguson as well as great nephew, Henry Alexander Ferguson. She leaves behind many loving friends as well as her wonderful caregivers Stacy Jones and Lisa Gibson. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude for Stacy and Lisa’s help during Dotte’s battle with cancer.

A celebration of life will be held at Dignity Memorial in Palm Beach Gardens on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from 3-5. Her graveside service will be held Wednesday, June 3rd at 11:30 a.m. at Courtney Baptist Church Cemetery in Yadkinville, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Avery Humane Society, PO Box 1213 Newland, NC 28657.