Barbara B. Johnston

Barbara Johnston possessed an unwavering zest for life.

She was stylish and adventurous, endlessly curious, and well read. She loved family, nature, summer camp, history, art and music, as well as collecting memories and treasures from her travels.

Barbara was born in Regent Square to Dr. Earle Beacham, a dentist, and Clara McClellan Beacham. The family soon moved to Irwin, where Barbara spent her childhood and teen years.

She graduated from Chatham University in 1954 with a degree in nursing and began her career as a registered nurse at Allegheny General Hospital. Later, she served as Justice of the Peace and returned to nursing for general practice physicians.

In 1956, Barbara married Charles R. "Dick" Volk. Together they built a home in Rosslyn Farms Borough and raised four children: Christopher (Boise, ID), David (Sewickley, PA), Amy (San Diego, CA) and Timothy (Springfield, OH).

In the 1970s, the couple restored Barbara's ancestral farm in the Allegheny Mountains near Gibbon Glade, PA. The McClellan Farm was settled by her great grandparents in the 1850s and has been in the family ever since. Her skills as a naturalist truly shined at the farm where she had spent summers as a child during the Depression. Thanks to her efforts, the family is still enjoying the farm today.

In the early 1980s, Barbara found a second love with William "Bill" Johnston. They built a joyful life centered on family and faith. Bill, a Presbyterian minister, was an ideal partner for Barbara, whose appreciation for the church, faith and fellowship had long been part of her life.

After Bill's death in 1996, Barbara carried on with resilience. She remained socially vibrant, maintaining her long relationship with Wallace Memorial (now Unity Presbyterian) Church and also volunteering in the alumni office at Chatham College. She was also involved in the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), eventually serving as chapter president and advancing its mission of expanding educational opportunities for women.

Barbara was preceded in death by her older sister, Elizabeth Beacham (Kelm) Hargleroad. She is survived by her four children and seven grandchildren: Christopher's daughter, Emily; David's children, Nicholas, Sarah, Anna, and Charles; Tim's daughters, Elizabeth and Josephine; and one new great-grandchild, Nicholas's daughter, Amy. She also cherished the six stepchildren from her second marriage: Elizabeth, Susanne, Mary, William, Nancy, and Sarah, as well as their extended families.

Barbara will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all.

A memorial service and reception will be held at Unity Presbyterian Church, 1146 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh PA 15220, on Saturday, June 13, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Family and friends are cordially invited to attend. In addition, a celebration of life reception will be held on the evening of Friday, June 12. Invitations will be extended to guests interested in attending.

Gifts of remembrance may be made in Barbara's honor to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, https://waterlandlife.org/donate/, which protects and restores exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters, healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of future generations.