Obituary of Barbara Elaine Thomas

Barbara Elaine (Martin) Thomas, 80, passed away at her home on October 5, 2023. She was born on April 4, 1943 and grew up in Morgantown, WV, and was a proud resident of Bruceton Mills for more than 60 years. Barb is now reunited in her heavenly home with her son, Brian Thomas, her parents, Paul & Helen Martin, her sister, Diana (Lynn) Cunningham, and her brother, Donald P. Martin. After graduating from University High School in 1961, Barb started her first job as an administrative assistant at West Virginia University. After pausing her career to devote time to raising her children, Barb later joined the staff at Preston County Schools where she worked in the Personnel Department for 30 years before retiring in 2013. Barb was a devoted member of the Shady Grove Church of the Brethren. Each summer she looked forward to teaching Vacation Bible School, and she served as a member of the church choir, church moderator, deaconess, and on multiple other committees over the past six decades. Her steadfast faith and devotion to Christ served as a shining example to her family and friends. Barb was passionate about giving back to her community and spending time with others. Over the years, you could count on her to serve as a field trip chaperone, as a leader or volunteer for her children’s 4-H clubs, Boy Scout or Girl Scout troops, as leader for the Bruceton Friendship Club, and most recently as a member of the Shady Grove quilting club. For more than 50 years, she looked forward to planning and decorating the annual Good Neighbor Days float and coordinating the Queen’s committee. The Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department honored Barb’s dedication to her community with the Good Neighbor Award in 1989. Her creative talent was showcased in Barb’s passion for cake decorating, oil painting, knitting, sewing, and quilting. One of Barb’s greatest sources of pride were her four children: the late Brian (Sandy) Thomas of Morgantown, Candice (Rick) Maddox of Pickerington, OH, Alan (Karmon) Thomas of Bruceton Mills, and David (Staci) Thomas of Morgantown. You could always find Barb supporting them at their band concerts or parades, FFA/4-H events and cattle shows, and sports competitions. As devoted as she was to her children, Barb also adored being grandma to Corissa (Grant) Neiman, Chase (Emily) Thomas, and Cara Thomas, Greyson and Parker Maddox, Kendall and Kaden Thomas, and Ethan and Elyse Thomas. She was also a proud great grandma to Braxton and Barrett Neiman. Barb will be remembered for her kind and generous heart that she shared with all who knew and loved her. Friends and family are invited to pay their respects at the Carl R. Spear Funeral Home, Brandonville-Bruceton Mills, WV, on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Monday, October 9, 2023, from 10:00 until the 11:00 a.m. service at the Shady Grove Church of the Brethren, with Pastor Michael Bernard officiating. Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Barb’s memory to her church. Donations can be sent to Shady Grove Church of the Brethren, c/o Teresa Quinn,18254 North Preston Highway, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525. Condolences may be sent to spearfuneralhome.net.