Brian Wilkerson passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, at his home in Killeen, Texas, where he was serving as a staff sergeant for the U.S. Army at Fort Hood.

He was born Oct. 4, 1978 to Linda Chance and the late Richard Wilkerson at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Brian graduated from Del Norte High School in 1997 and went on to join the U.S. Army in September 1997 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He had been assigned to 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Hood since April 2011.

Brian was deployed to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor from April to October 2000. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to March 2004, and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from February 2005 to February 2006.

His awards and decorations include four Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze service star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign stars, and the Combat Action Badge.

He is survived by his two children, daughter Amberlyn Wilkerson, and son, Alex Atessis, of Fort Hood, Texas; his mother, Linda Chance and her husband, Michael Chance, both of Albuquerque, New Mexico; sister Lara Wilkerson of Hot Springs, Arkansas; sister, Tonia Wilkerson of Loveland, Colorado; brother, Timothy Wilkerson, his wife Jennifer Wilkerson and their two children; sister, Michelle Forman and her husband Kyle Forman, all of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandfather, James Chandler of Edwards; and many aunts, uncles and cousins, friends and fellow soldiers.

Brian was preceded in death by his wife of 9 years, Natasha Wilkerson, of Fort Hood, Texas; his father, Master Sgt. Richard Wilkerson; grandparents, Henry and Hazel Durden of Aurora, Colorado; his grandmother, Pearl Chandler of Vicksburg; and his aunts, Ellouise Welch and Linda Wilkerson.

He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, son and brother. As a mechanic, he enjoyed working on his cars and was an aspiring artist, recently taking up oil painting in addition to his drawings. Brian and his wife also had a cake decorating business until her death in May of this year.

Funeral Service with full military honors will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, at Glenwood Funeral Home. Brian will be laid to rest next to his father at Bethel Cemetery near Edwards.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Wounded Warriors.