Robin Doreen Irvin was born on 22 October 1952 in Bucyrus, Ohio, second of the five children of Robert Earl Irvin and Katharine Kingman Weber Irvin. She lived in Bucyrus until the summer of 1970, when her family moved to Gaffney, South Carolina with her father's transfer to the new Timken Roller Bearing plant there.

Robin graduated from Gaffney High School in 1971 and then attended the University of South Carolina. She married William Edward Garner in Gaffney on 13 December 1975 (divorced 5 March 1998). Together, they had one daughter, Sara Victoria Garner, born 18 November 1980.

Robin was a devout Christian with a deep love for reading the Bible and listening to uplifting Christian music. Her passion for creativity flourished in various forms, from drawing and sewing to dancing and singing. For several years, she successfully ran her own custom drapery business, combining her entrepreneurial spirit with her artistic talents.

Robin was preceded in death by her parents and three younger brothers: Robert Earl Irvin II, Michael Keith Irvin, and Steven Frederick Irvin.

She is survived by her daughter Sara, her granddaughter Destiny Alexis Walters Curtis (Matthew), her grandson Darian Alexander Walters (Megan), grandchildren Isabella and Reece Walters, and her older sister Katharine Sarah Irvin. She is also survived by nieces Katharine Madison Sharpe (Sean Lehane), Kevan Cooper Sharpe Weaver Cabana (Christopher), and Autumn Lynn Irvin Cole; nephews Nik Kingman and Christopher Andrew Sharpe; and four great nephews: Zachary Sharpe, William and Andrew Weaver, and Ryan Cole.