Obituary of Brian Fike Thomas

Brian Fike Thomas, 52, of Morgantown, WV, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at his home after a valiant two-year battle with cancer. The son of Paul Fike Thomas and Barbara Martin Thomas, he was born May 13, 1964, in Morgantown. Brian was CEO and President of Clear Mountain Bank and owner and President of Insurance Centers, Inc. A graduate of Bruceton High School, Brian then earned his B.S. in Business Administration from West Virginia University (1986) and his M.B.A. from The Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia (1988). He was a member of Avery United Methodist Church. Over the past three decades, Brian's passion for business and new opportunities resulted in countless contributions to local communities. His vision for expansion grew Clear Mountain Bank to its current 13 branch offices, and after assuming ownership of Insurance Centers in 1999, Brian expanded operations to include five area insurance agencies. While Brian loved the challenges presented by his business endeavors, he was equally dedicated to giving back to his communities. He devoted countless hours of service as a member of the Mon General Hospital Foundation Board, West Virginia Banker's Association, Independent Insurance Agents of WV, Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Preston County and Monongalia County Economic Development Boards, as well as numerous other boards. In addition to his parents, Brian is survived by his wife, Sandra (Whetsell) Thomas; his children: Corissa Blair, Chase Fike and Cara Paige Thomas; his brothers, Alan (Karmon) Thomas and David (Staci) Thomas; his sister, Candice (Rick) Thomas-Maddox; his stepmother, Judith (Davis) Thomas; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mark and Vicky Whetsell; his sister-in-law Jane Whetsell; and loving nieces and nephews. He will be greeted in Heaven by his paternal grandparents, Ward and Mary Thomas; his maternal grandparents, Paul and Helen Martin; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Eileen Whetsell; step mother-in-law, Thelma Whetsell; and brother-in-law, Randall Whetsell. Family and friends may call at the Avery United Methodist Church in Morgantown, Friday, from 1:00 until 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, September 3, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. until the 1:00 p.m. service in the church, with Pastor Jennie Williams and Pastor Dan Kimble officiating. Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery, Bruceton Mills, WV. Carl R. Spear Funeral Home of Brandonville-Bruceton Mills has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Darrell Saunders and Staff, Dr. Andrew Heiskell and Staff, the Infusion Center Staff, the Oncology Floor Staff, Amedisys Hospice Staff and the countless friends for being there with love and support through this journey. In keeping with Brian's wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following organizations: The Foundation of Mon General Hospital (1200 J.D. Anderson Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505); Morgantown Hospice, an Amedisys Partner (3596 Collins Ferry Road #250, Morgantown, WV 26505); or the Avery United Methodist Church-Building Fund (1152 Cheat Road, Morgantown, WV 26508).