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WEST HATFIELD - Robert Barlow Johnston, 69, of 151 Pantry Road, passed away peacefully on Feb. 5, 2010 surrounded by his family.

He was born in Somerville on Sept. 13, 1940 and was the adopted son of the late Walter and Elizabeth (Reed) Johnston. He moved to Northampton in his youth and was raised and educated here, graduating from Northampton High School and attending the University of Massachusetts. He joined the military in 1957, serving with the U.S. Army in the 68th Armored Regiment as well as the 82nd Airborne division. As a paratrooper he successfully completed 22 jumps. He was honorably discharged and returned home in 1960. Bob worked as a Salesman for J. Polep Distribution Services and also E & J Cigar for many years before retiring. An avid golfer, Bob was a member of the Northampton Country Club for over 40 years. After retirement, Bob was never one to sit still, he worked as a ranger at Look Park for the past few years and loved the time he spent there and with the many people he met.

He leaves his wife, Virginia "Ginny" (Beals) Johnston; his daughter, Amy Johnston Earle and her husband Rob Earle and his son, Robert Johnston; his siblings, Meredith Johnston of Hyannis, Mass., Raymond Johnston and his wife Jean of Plainville, Conn., Bruce Johnston and his wife Linda of Newman, Ga., and Gary Barlow and his wife Shirley of Sioux Falls, S.D.; his grandchildren; Gavin Earle, Nolan Earle, Alex Moran, Zack Moran, Kristy Handfield, Matthew Neumann and Kathryn Neumann. He also leaves his step-son, Curt Moran and his wife Lisa; and his step-daughter, Tammy Handfield and her husband Mark Handfield. He leaves many beloved nieces and nephews, including Teresa O'Kelley, Robert Johnston, Lisa Garmon, Regina Lozynsky, Curt and Jerry Garmon, Laura Johnston Arling, Priscilla Johnston Dutton, Lisa and Eric Barlow.

The Family invites you to join them at the Czelusniak Funeral Home of Northampton on Monday for a Memorial Celebration of Bob's life at 12 p.m. A Calling hour will precede the service from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. A reception will follow at the Northampton Country Club. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Bob's memory to the VNA Hospice Alliance.