Kimberly Ann (Ostling) Cox passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at the age of 52 in her home with her family present.
Born on March 24, 1970 in Bryn Mawr, PA to Bill and Joyce Ostling, Kim moved with her family to Bainbridge Island, WA when she was a year old. As she grew up on the island, she was active in church and choir groups before graduating from Bainbridge High School in 1989. Her love of children drew her to pursue an Early Childhood Education degree, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree from Seattle Central Community College in 1992 and a Bachelors of Arts from Central Washington University in 1994. She greatly enjoyed her time working with children as a nanny and at the Christ Memorial (Gateway) Church daycare in Poulsbo, WA. As a member of Eastside Foursquare Church, she volunteered with the children’s ministry and in the office.
She met the love of her life, Tom Cox, when she sat in the same church pew as him in college. They married in 1996 and spent an incredible 26 years together, traveling around the US and Europe, cheering on the Seattle Mariners, enjoying Disneyland and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
As an Anglophile at heart, Kim always appreciated a good cup of tea and treasured her outings to traditional afternoon teas at tea shops with her husband and family. Above all else, she valued special family times together. She will be remembered for her sweet and kind personality, powerful faith, and constant perseverance. She had a strong will to live the best life possible and worked hard to overcome any obstacles she faced.
Kim is survived by her devoted husband of 26 years, Tom Cox. She also leaves behind her loving parents, Bill and Joyce Ostling; sister, Tami Ostling, her husband, Terry Postma, and their sons; in-laws, Bob and Karen Cox; sister-in-laws Lisa Cox, Becky Culver, and Marie Welch, along with their husbands and children. She is preceded in death by her older brother, Douglas M. Ostling, who loved and cared for her greatly and with whom she shared a special bond.
Her husband and family would like to thank friends, neighbors and family for their support and prayers for Kim over the years, and specifically thank those who spent time with her and made her feel very loved. Family and friends are encouraged to leave their favorite memory of Kim on the virtual guestbook at https://bartonfuneral.com.
In honor of her memory, Kim’s Celebration of Life gathering will be a holiday tea served at her and her husband’s home in Kenmore, WA on Saturday, December 3, from 1-5 PM. Please email tamiostling@yahoo.com for the address and parking instructions.
