It is with great sadness and broken hearts that we must say goodbye here to our dear sister, aunt, and friend, Roberta (Robin) Lynn ‘Birdie” Johnston of Beckley.

Robin was born June 20, 1958 at Ury, W.Va., to the late Charles Hensley Jr. and Margarette Colleen Hensley.

Other than her parents, Robin was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas ‘Tommy’ Johnston; also two sisters, Brenda Kay Beitz and Margarette ‘Margie’ Colleen Hensley; paternal grandparents, Charles and Nora Grose Hensley and maternal grandparents, Bill and Edith Viola Moore.

Robin was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. After graduation she moved to Bolivar, Tenn., where she met and married Tommy.

After Tommy’s death she returned to Beckley. She then went to school to be a Licensed Practical Nurse. After which she worked as a L.P.N. until she became ill. She worked as an I.C.U. nurse at Beckley Hospital until its closing and then at the Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. Robin loved being a nurse and caring for her patients. She also enjoyed country music, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Robin became a Christian and attended the Herndon Freewill Baptist Church when her health allowed.

Those left to cherish her memory include, her brother, Charles ‘Chuck’ Hensley and wife Barbara of Cool Ridge; two sisters, Patricia Ann Hensley of Pensacola, Fla. and Linda Faye Grimes and husband Johnny of Beckley; brother-in-law, Joe Beitz of Beckley; nephews and nieces, Kent Grimes and Christina Grimes Lefler who were very special to her and she thought of them as her own, Christina’s husband, Roger, Tara (Beitz) Taylor and husband, Rick of Beckley, Stephanie (Hensley) Adkins and husband, David of Shady Spring, Charles Hensley and wife, Gwen of Beckley; five great-nephews and three great-nieces. She is also survived by special friends, Rebecca, Terri, Helen, Sherri, Doris, Cathy and many more.

Very dear to her heart was Joey and Sara Shuck and sons, Jaden, Jordy, and Austin.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. and Mrs. Daminador Lao for their many years of care given to Robin; also the Doctors and staff of the Roanoke Memorial Hospital MICU for their love and support during her illness.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley with Pastor William O. Tolliver officiating.

Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. 

Pallbearers will be Johnny Grimes, Roger Lefler, Jacob Lefler, Joe Beitz, Rusty Patrick, Junior Ratliff, Joey Shuck and Charles Hensley.

Friends may gather with the family from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.