SSgt Robert “Bob” Eugene Johnston Sr. passed peacefully Sunday, August 28, 2022, at his home after a near 3-year battle with ALS. He was born July 17, 1955, to Joseph Hardie and Laura Johnston in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bob is survived by three brothers, all of Kentucky: J Johnston (Rhonda), Hal Johnston (Rita), and Hayes Johnston. Bob spent his 67 years devoted to his family and faith. 

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Rhea “Jinny” Winfrey Johnston. Married on August 23, 1975, they spent nearly 38 years moving across the country for Bob’s career in the Marine Corps.

They raised and are survived by four children: Robert Eugene Johnston II (Sharon), Joseph Allen Johnston (Crystal) and Heather Faye Johnston, all of Somerville, and Patrick Rhea Johnston (Janay) of Murfreesboro. 

He enlisted in the Marine Corps on April 30, 1976. He completed Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina. He served for 9 years, 7 months, and 3 days and performed duties such as Aircraft Flight Control & Air Data Computer Systems Technician in Tustin, CA and instructor in the Aviation Electricians’, Mate A School. In June 1977 he was deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Rapid Deployment Force. After being placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List, Bob and Jinny would retire to their family home in Somerville, where she would later pass from her battle with Lupus on January 11, 2013.

He married the second love of his life, Tracy Johnson, on October 25, 2014. They moved to Hohenwald, in 2018. In 2019, Bob became a devoted member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Bob and Tracy started his medical journey with ALS in August 2019 with an official diagnosis in November 2021. They were married almost 8 years.

He is survived by four stepchildren, Kevin Lloyd Kelley (Laura) of Hernando, Mississippi, Jonathan Lloyd Kelley of Memphis, Rachel Lynn Stimpson of Bartlett, and Jessica Lynn Kelley of Memphis. 

Known as “Granddaddy” and “BeeBob”, he is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. 

On Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022, SSgt Robert E. Johnston Sr., alongside his son Robert E. Johnston II, participated in the promotion ceremony of his grandson, Sgt Robert E. Johnston III at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 

Visitation was held Friday, September 2, at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia. Saturday, September 3, 2022, a church viewing was held with Mass following at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hohenwald.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, if inclined. At a later date, Bob will be interred alongside his first wife, Jinny at Peeble’s Cemetery in Somerville. Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia is assisting the family with arrangements.