Jonathan Clyde Mayhew

Jonathan Clyde Mayhew, aged 76, passed away at home surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer on Monday May 20, 2024. Jonathan was born in Albuquerque, NM on December 4, 1947, to his parents, Clyde and Barbara Mayhew, née Gallup.

Jonathan was a long-time resident of McLean, VA. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. After graduating, he enlisted in the US Army and attended Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Belvoir in Virginia and then was stationed at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, MD. From there, he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, where he met his wife, Barbara. Jonathan and Barbara married on June 15, 1974, in Nashwauk, MN.

Jonathan and Barbara started their married life in Los Angeles, CA, where he was stationed at Fort MacArthur. Later, they moved to Fort Huachuca in Arizona.

In 1976, Jonathan left the army and joined the Foreign Service. During his time at the State Department, Jonathan was posted to Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia (1977-1979), where he did consular work. In Bangkok Thailand (1986-1988), Jonathan worked with refugees. In Moscow Russia (1994-1996), Jonathan served as a political officer. Jonathan also served in the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai (1985-1986). While state-side, Jonathan served on the Eastern European desk and spent the latter portion of his career working for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

After retiring from the State Department in 2005, Jonathan worked for the University of California system in conjunction with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and later the U.S. Department of Energy.

After his second retirement in 2015, Jonathan became an avid bird watcher.

Jonathan was predeceased by his parents and brother Robert W. Mayhew. Jonathan is survived by his wife Barbara K. Mayhew, née Kuntz, his four children Jennifer (George), David (Melissa), Kathryn, and Jonathan (Isabel), and his grandchildren Evalee, Kaylee, Maccabee, and Emma.

Jonathan’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Virginia Hospital Center and Goodwin Hospice for their dedicated care.

Funeral services will be held on June 1, 2024, at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 2609 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22207. Visitation will be on May 31, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude’s Children Hospital or the American Cancer Society.