James Michael Diehl - Obituary

ames “Jim” Michael Diehl, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, passed away on July 3, 2026. Born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1944, he grew up in McLean, Virginia, graduating from McLean High School. He attended George Washington University, graduating from the School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1966. It was at GWU where Jim met his future wife, Patricia Kay Dryden (BA ’66). They were married for 45 years before Patricia passed away in 2012. While at GWU, Jim balanced his classes, fraternity (Phi Sigma Kappa), and followed in his father’s footsteps by entering the U.S. Navy Reserve. After graduation, Jim served with the Navy surface fleet in Newport, R. I. and later in industry in Boston and New York before settling in Maryland with his family in 1973. Jim considered himself a lifelong student and never stopped learning, including engineering, flying, law, accounting, real estate, emergency medicine, and foreign languages. After active duty, while continuing in the Naval Reserves (eventually retiring as a Captain), he made the decision to pursue a law degree, graduating from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. After earning his law degree Jim continued to work as an engineer supporting aviation technology, safety, and policy until 1990 when he started a law practice, which he pursued for eight years. He also taught classes part-time as an adjunct professor for almost a decade. Jim retired from his engineering practice in 2014 and decided to return to another passion – aviation. Jim had been through U.S. Navy flight training and continued for several decades developing new pilots as a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), even earning an Air Transport Pilot (ATP) license. In 2014, Jim returned to the air first as an operations manager and then as a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines out of the Baltimore, Maryland, base. Jim loved being part of an operating air crew. He enjoyed the sense of togetherness and a joint commitment for the shared mission. Jim was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Patricia Diehl. He is survived by his two sons, William and John, and four lovely and aspiring grandkids. Family and friends are invited to gather to celebrate Jim’s life on Friday, July 24 from 1 to 3 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.