Robin Cooke Machen, 66, of Heathsville, Va., formerly of Bangor, Maine, died March 30, 2012 after an 18-month battle with breast cancer.

Born June 16, 1945 in Hampton to the late Luther W. and Emmy Lou Machen, Robin graduated from Hampton High School and Bridgewater College, and retired as a social worker from Hampton Department of Social Services, Westmoreland County Department of Social Services, Va., and Bangor Health and Welfare.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Lou Ford (Woodrow) of Norfolk; nephew, David Machen (Lisa) of Mathews; two nieces, Susan Kilpatrick (Bob) of Hardy and Carol Chavez (Ron) of Tijeras, New Mexico; step-daughter, Bridgette Chalila (Rob Spreng) and her brother Ulemu Chalila, and all the Chalila-Spreng Family of Bangor; cousins, Nancy Fuchs of Burgess and her daughter Amy of Kilmarnock and Mary Fern Bourne (Jim) of Bena, and faithful friend, Mary Steed Ewell of Yorktown, who was her guardian angel during her long illness.

Robin had a big heart and wide smile. When she wasn’t helping others, her great loves were bird watching, driving, traveling, golfing, reading and anything to do with nature. She especially enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys in the company of her two cats, Mater and Felix. She will be missed by a host of family, friends and coworkers who supported her through this illness.

Interment was April 4, 2012 at 10 a.m. in Parklawn Memorial Park, 2551 N. Armistead Avenue, and the memorial service was at 11 a.m. at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, Va. A memorial service will be held later in Bangor.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mid-County Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 355, Heathsville, Va. 22473, or Animal Orphanage, P.O. Box 565, Orono, Maine 04473.