William John Matheson

1950 - 2017

William John Matheson

Vero Beach, FL

William John Matheson of Gloucester, VA and Vero Beach, FL passed away on April 2, 2017 following complications of his fearless battle with metastatic melanoma, compounded with pneumonia. John was born May 12, 1950 in Washington, D.C., the youngest of six children to Malcolm Matheson Jr. and Emma Tompkins Matheson. He attended Blue Ridge School, Virginia Wesleyan College, and earned a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia. He worked as an architect and landscape architect, serving as founding principal for W. John Matheson & Company.

John loved Gloucester and contributed his time and energy to the community. He served for many years on the boards of Ware Academy and Christ Church School and was a longtime member of the Gloucester Rotary Club, earning the distinction of being a Paul Harris fellow.

John's most outstanding gift was his kind heart and generous spirit. He had the amazing ability to connect with almost anyone he came across.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Ruth Whitehead Matheson, and by their daughter, Sarah Matheson Harris, and Sarah's husband, Eric R. Harris. He is also survived by his five siblings, Malcolm Matheson III, Charles T. Matheson, Emma Matheson Roe, Torrey Matheson Cooke, and Lida Matheson Stifel.

A service to celebrate John's life will be held on Saturday, April 29th at one o'clock at Abingdon Episcopal Church, 4645 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in John's memory be made to Ware Academy, 7936 John Clayton Memorial Highway, Gloucester, VA 23061, Blue Ridge School, 273 Mayo Drive, St. George, VA 22935, or Abingdon Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 82, White Marsh, VA 23183.