by Kate Shunney
Berkeley Springs insurance agent Luke Christie spent part of last week greeting customers and friends at his State Farm insurance office, marking the final week of a 43-year career. Christie retired March 1.
Christie’s insurance office at Valley Road will remain open under the direction of agent Garrett Murray with the current staff in place, he said.
And Christie’s community involvement, which ranges from education to service groups, will also continue, he said.
Unlike some people who find their careers through trial and error, Luke Christie knew very early on he wanted to be a State Farm insurance agent.
“Throughout the years, a lot of Christies were in the insurance business,” he said.
When young Luke told his father, who was in insurance, that he wanted to follow in his footsteps, John Christie told his son he could do that but he had to be 25 years old and have a college degree.
So the Clarksburg, W.Va. native graduated from high school and attended Salem College, then worked at a variety of jobs until he was old enough to fulfill his dreams. Christie said he delivered papers on a family route from the time he was six years old, then later in life added other job experiences, from selling shoes and tires to working at a strip mine while in college.
In January of 1983, Christie started working for State Farm in Wheaton, Md. He spent 14 years in the suburban Maryland market, then returned to West Virginia in 1997 to continue his insurance career.
“I’ve loved it; it’s served me well,” Christie said of his work in insurance. “The best part was moving to Berkeley Springs.”
When he decided to transfer from Maryland, one of the openings was in Berkeley Springs. He came to work at the State Farm office across from the Dairy Queen, in the Kesecker building.
In 2010, Christie bought a corner lot across U.S. 522 and had his new office building built.
Agent April Beard worked for Luke Christie for 20 years and the late Jay Reddick was part of the State Farm team for 16 years.
Beard, along with newer staff Angela and Lisa, remain working at the Berkeley Springs State Farm office under the direction of Garrett Murray, who has taken over for Christie.
One of the most significant changes in the insurance industry during Luke Christie’s time has been the emergency of remote work and internet-based business models.
“Before COVID, people worked side by side, learned and trained together,” he said. That made it easier to get answers to questions or solve challenges together, said Christie.
“This business is for younger people with energy and digital acumen,” he said. “I think it’s still so important to have a bricks and mortar place with staff where people are, Monday through Friday,” Christie said.
At almost 69 years of age, some retirees might be expected to “slow down,” but Luke Christie has too much to do. He said he won’t let himself get lazy, which isn’t much of risk for someone involved in as many community efforts as he is.
Christie continues to serve as the Berkeley Springs High School basketball manager, now in his 28th year of that volunteer activity.
“It’s fun and people appreciate it,” he said.
He credits his wife, Bridgette, a Morgan County educator and daughter Emma with supporting his career and various community activities over the years.
He is a longtime PASS volunteer, offering mentorship to Morgan County Schools students weekly. Christie is also a trained Read Aloud volunteer for the schools.
Christie is often called as a judge for social studies and science fairs in the county. He served eight years on the Morgan County Board of Education, having been recruited to run by former Superintendent Steve Paine, who spotted Christie cleaning grass off the Widmyer Elementary track one day.
A self-described “sports guy,” Christie enjoys the fun of high school sports, has helped out with high school golf while enjoying the sport himself.
Christie is also a longtime member of the local Rotary Club and leads the Rotary’s Interact Club at Berkeley Springs High School to get students involved in community service.
“I’ll still be active with the schools, sports and community,” Christie said. With maybe a few more visits to sunny climates in between volunteer commitments.