Travis Buchanon Wilkie was born in La Jolla, California, on March 22, 1996, and grew up in Point Loma, a small Southern California beach town. Travis took full advantage of always being outside and going to the beach, riding bikes, and hanging out in the neighborhood. He received his education, K-8, at Warren Walker School and split his high school years at St. Augustine and La Jolla Country Day, graduating in the class of 2014. He was an incredible athlete who grew up excelling at a multitude of sports including basketball, soccer, football, surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and swimming. Nothing, however, compared to his true love, America’s favorite pastime, baseball. Travis’ passion for baseball started at age four and continued throughout his entire life, leading him to play baseball competitively for his high school and various traveling club teams. 

Travis put in the hard work required both on the baseball diamond and in the classroom, eventually receiving offers to play baseball at several Division I universities. While he was not guaranteed a spot on the United States Air Force Academy’s roster, Travis decided service to his country was a higher calling and took the risk. In his own words, Travis chose to attend the Academy “to seek adventure, to challenge [himself], to become the best person [he could] be. The opportunity to obtain an amazing education and serve [his] country, while also playing Division I baseball [was] unmatched.” Travis earned a spot on the team as a walk-on where he became the starting catcher all four years. Aside from playing baseball, Travis was awarded the opportunity to fly gliders, work basic cadet training, develop cadets through the Honors Program, and above all else, meet his future wife, Peyton Cottingham. Travis was the total package: He was an exemplary cadet excelling athletically, academically, and militarily. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in the Class of 2018 with a degree in Systems Engineerin, Human Factors. 

Following graduation, Travis moved to Enid, Oklahoma, where he attended undergraduate pilot training at Vance AFB. Travis was a member of the 71st Student Squadron where he served as a T-6A Texan II and T-38C Talon Student Pilot. As a student flying the T-6, Travis immediately established himself as a team player and a dedicated student. His positive attitude and unrivaled work ethic earned him Echo Flight’s “Hard Charger” Award for his outstanding performance. In the T-38, Travis continued striving to be the best. He could always be found in the flight room studying, helping his peers, or practicing in the simulator. Travis was known as a true professional, and faced all challenges with a smile on his face. It was during this time that he married the love of his life in Oklahoma City on October 14, 2019. 

Travis was a man of steady faith and was baptized April 11, 2009, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in San Diego. Across the years he worshipped at Our Lady of Pines in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and St. Gregory the Great in Enid. 

Despite all of his academic and professional accomplishments, Travis never lost sight of what was most important to him. In Travis’ own words, “In terms of life goals, I want to be a great husband and a great father someday. I want to be someone that my wife and kids trust, love, and cherish.” This is evidence of the kind of husband, son, friend and officer that Travis truly was. He sought out challenges because they would only make him better and he never passed up the opportunity to grow. Travis was able to make a difference in this world and impact everyone who was a part of his life. In his 23 years, he was able to live a full life. He lost his life in service to his country on November 21, 2019. He is survived by his wife, Peyton, parents Donald and Carlene, and sister Cameron. He is also survived by his grandmother, Kate Wilkie; his aunt and uncle, Becky and James Wilkie; his cousins, Josh and Jimmy Wilkie; his godparents, Mike and Sara Fraunces; and an abundance of friends, classmates and teammates.

Please visit Travis' website: https://www.travisbwilkie.com/travis-life-lessons