Barbara (Sudduth) Kehl

Barbara (Sudduth) Kehl was born in Bellingham, Washington May 7, 1938. She passed away in Whatcom County, April 9, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husband Theodore (Ted) Kehl, her father Charles Sudduth, parents Mable & Donald Frombly and brother Greg Frombly. She is survived by her children Gary Kehl (Cathie Fowler), Debra Brooks (Rob), Jim Kehl (Lyle Sinkewich), Scott Frostad and grandchildren Madeleine, Alexandra and Sam. She began her Tupperware career in 1961, way before mothers were encouraged to have a career and before she could open a bank account on her own. With the support of her husband and her parents, she became known as the Tupperware Queen of Bellingham, continuing her Tupperware career for over 60 years. Her family will remember her as the center of the home. Meals planned, rides given, “Free from Tupperware” attached to at least one thing in every room in the house. A telephone was permanently wedged between her ear and shoulder. Imagine how exciting it was when she received her first headset that freed her hands for crocheting! Her Tupperware associates will remember her as the woman with all the helpful kitchen hints, storage tips, party games with prizes involved, ready to open her datebook to fill her schedule. A filing cabinet filled with motivational books, inspirational quotes and handouts to discover “What Season Are You?” and how to “Dress For Success” helped launch other women on their own paths to success. A champion of empowering women and elevating those who followed her. Her friends will remember her as the woman you could call and receive sound advice, grounded in empathy and life experience. Her nightly emails were filled with all the details of her day, whether you wanted them or not. Her childrens friends found an additional parental figure to bring their problems to and she would receive them without judgment. Many receiving a crocheted afghan for their first dorm room or apartment. Alongside her husband Ted, she was active with the Elks Lodge, on the dance floor or at an Emblem Club bazaar. Barb believed in show and tell. Show people you love them and tell people you love them. Tell people you will be somewhere and then show up. She loved as she lived, full speed and all in, only slowing down when her husband, our dad, became ill and needed her to be still by his side. Fascinated by the world around her, she read the newspaper every day and devoured non-fiction books. She believed there were many levels to human existence that we couldn’t see with the naked eye and was a seeker in finding what makes people tick and how to help them. She was “content.” That was her word. She appreciated what she had. One of the hardest parts of her moving into assisted living was that she would miss the trees in her yard on West Maplewood. Still, she faced each challenge as an adventure to embark upon. Her last few years, dementia crept in and slowly took the sharpness from her brain. Her attitude, through to the end, remained positive, happy and kind. Long ago, she filled out a questionnaire that asked, “What do you think happens after you die?” and her answer was, “I start my next chapter.” Her family invites you to join us for a celebration of Barb’s life at the Moles Farewell Tribute Center - Greenacres Memorial Park (at Northwest & Axton), Thursday, May 07, 2026 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Whatcom Hospice House, https://whatcomhospice.org/donate-online

Barbara (Sudduth) Kehl

May 7, 1938 - April 9, 2026