Tristen was attending the United States Air Force Academy and was a member of Class of 2025 and Cadet Squadron 31, The Grim Reapers.

Tristen Riley Burton was born on June 26, 2002 in Katy, to Jeffrey and Marjorie (Wilkins) Burton. He grew up with an older brother, Tucker, younger brother, Travis, and baby sister, Tessa.

Tristen attended Granger Independent School District through the seventh grade and completed his high school education at Holland High School. Tristen was salutatorian of the class of 2020.

While Tristen dreamed of attending the United States Air Force Academy right out of high school, he was granted a Falcon Scholar Scholarship and attended Georgia Military College for a year before obtaining his appointment to USAFA.

Tristen began his journey to fulfilling his dream of becoming an F-22 pilot in June of 2021. Tristen was majoring in mechanical engineering at The Academy. He was just a few months away from learning if his job in the Air Force would allow him to be a pilot.

In addition to his love for airplanes, Tristen loved motorcycles, weight lifting, music and cars. He particularly loved his 2005 Corvette and Honda CBR650R motorcycle that he purchased. If Tristen was not studying, he could be found in a weight room, on his bike, in his car or tinkering with one of his vehicles.

Tristen also spent a lot of time composing songs. Tristen’s time away from USAFA was spent at home enjoying family, friends and sleep, which is evidently in short supply at the Academy. He loved his people deeply.

Tristen was preceded in death by his grandpa, Kenneth Wilkins.

Tristen is survived by his parents, Jeff and Margie; siblings, Tucker, Travis and Tessa, all of Granger; his Nana, Jacqueline Wilkins of Granger; his Granny and PaPa, Debbie and Mike Wilcox of Belton; his grandpa, Les Burton of Killeen; his aunts and uncles, Mary and Jeff Jung of San Antonio, Dianne and Ruben Lemus of Salado, Robyn and Jorge Castillo of Round Rock, Jennifer and Hector Acosta of Killeen, Amy and Chris Wilcox of Holland; and his USAFA sponsor parents, Susan Wolbrueck and Eddie Klingman of Manitou Springs, Colorado; and numerous cousins whom he loved dearly.

Serving as pallbearers are Kenneth Tucker Burton, Airman Travis Wade Burton, Joshua Jung, Jace Jung, Shane Miller and Hayden Martin.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Ruben Daniel Lemus, Nicholas Lemus, C2C Nathanial, Bone, C2C Blake Kilgore, C2C Cam Woodard, C2C Mason Daily, C2C Nakai Alexander, C2C Lake Mills and C1C Philip Meira.

Visitation will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Providence Funeral Home.

The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m., followed by burial at Taylor City Cemetery.

There will be a celebration of life following the burial at St. Cyril & Methodius Recreation Hall. Contributions in Tristen’s memory may be made to https://gofund.me/5d9e68aa