Auto-pedestrian victims lovingly remembered

MURRAY — He was Mr. Mom. She was an aspiring princess.

It's those images of a loving husband and daughter that the family of Don and Gwyndalyn Ostler would like their loved ones to be remembered for — not as the father and daughter who were struck by a motorist while crossing 1300 East.

Ostler, 29, was walking his 5-year-old daughter to afternoon kindergarten at Twin Peaks Elementary School Monday, as he did every day. Walking hand-in-hand in the crosswalk, the two were hit and killed by an 86-year-old driver crossing 1300 East near 5300 South.

Kylee Ostler, Don's sister-in-law, met with reporters Wednesday morning to update the public on how the family is doing and to share stories about Don and Gwyn.

Don Ostler, who lived in Utah all his life and grew up in Utah County, was an aspiring photographer. He worked weekend graveyard shifts at Sam's Club. That meant during the week, he was home to take care of Gwyn and his 10-year-old son, Zach. His daily routine included taking his children to school and walking them home each afternoon.

"Every day they would walk to school," Kylee Ostler said. "He held her hand all the way. That was his time with her."

Each afternoon, Don would not only escort his two children home but other children from his neighborhood would walk with them.

His wife, Jaclyn, was the love of his life, Kylee Ostler said, as were his children. Don would often play video games or chess with Zach. And Gwyn was truly his little princess. Ostler said Gwyn's favorite book was "How to be a princess" which she read every night.

"Our hearts are broken," she said. "We're just trying to take things moment by moment."

Jaclyn Ostler was originally scheduled to meet with reporters Wednesday but decided at the last minute she couldn't do it, partly because she was trying to finalize funeral arrangements.

"She's doing well for the circumstances," Kylee Ostler said.

But the past couple of days have been understandably hard. On Tuesday, Jaclyn had the difficult task of finding a dress for Gwyn to wear for her funeral. Meanwhile, the family tried to keep Zach busy with a trip to Thanksgiving Point.

"He's lost a father and sister he was very close to," Kylee said.