Malcolm Matheson Jr., 94, a retired real estate executive and longtime resident of Mount Vernon, died of respiratory failure Dec. 21 at his home. Mr. Mathesons wife of 72 years, Emma Tompkins Matheson, died Dec. 14.

Mr. Matheson was born in Gloucester, Va. but moved here as a child to Wellington, a historic home next to the Mount Vernon Estate. That home is now River Farm, the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society.

In 1938, Mr. Matheson built a home at Ferry Point on the banks of the Potomac south of Alexandria. He raised livestock on the farm and supplied Mount Vernon with its hams well into the 1940s.

He attended Sidwell Friends School in Washington and graduated from Episcopal High School, before attending Princeton University.

After college, Mr. Matheson lived in New York in the 30s and worked for the Beech-Nut Packing Co. He returned to the area in 1938 and owned a truck-leasing company during World War II. Mr. Matheson also owned a construction company that built houses and commercial buildings in the Greater Alexandria area, including the visitors center at the Mount Vernon Estate.

Mr. Matheson eventually became president of the Charles H. Tompkins Co., a construction firm founded by his father-in-law, which built many of the areas commercial buildings.

In 1961, Mr. Matheson became president of the H Street Building Corp, which built residential and commercial development projects in the Pentagon City. He retired from the company in 1990.

In his spare time Mr. Matheson was an accomplished sportsman, partaking in tennis, golf and yachting, which he enjoyed from his winter home in Vero Beach, FL. He was also an accomplished equestrian, and a member of the Casanova Hunt in the 40s and 50s.

For 35 years, Mr. Matheson served on the board of United Virginia Bank for 35 years. For most of his life he was a member of the Belle Haven Country Club, Metropolitan Club, City Tavern Club and Chevy Chase Club.

He is survived by six children, Emma Matheson Roe of Mendenhall, Pa., Malcolm Matheson III of The Plains, VA., Torrey Matheson Cooke of Ridgefield, Conn., Charles T. Matheson of Markham, Lida Matheson Stifel of Darnestown and William John Matheson of Gloucester; 20 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren.