B-156557, APR. 23, 1965
Highlights
IT IS SHOWN THAT MRS. WAS NOT SURVIVED BY DESCENDANTS OR PARENTS. WHILE THE DEATH CERTIFICATE INDICATES THAT SHE WAS SURVIVED BY A HUSBAND. IN EXPLANATION THEREOF THERE IS FURNISHED A STATEMENT DATED APRIL 9. AS FOLLOWS: YOU WILL NOTICE ON THE CERTIFICATE OF DEATH. THAT RALPH MATTHEWS IS LISTED AS THE SURVIVING HUSBAND. MATTHEWS WERE DIVORCED AS PER THE ATTACHED DECREE. MATTHEWS HAS REMARRIED AND IS LIVING AT 5112 NORTH CAPITOL STREET. HE IS (SIC) ALSO THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE NEWARK. "NO RELATIVE WAS AVAILABLE TO CLAIM MRS. IN ORDER THAT HIS FORMER WIFE WOULD HAVE A RESPECTABLE BURIAL. IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE ESTATE.'. UNDER 5 U.S.C. 61F UNPAID COMPENSATION DUE IN THE CASE OF A DECEASED CIVILIAN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE UNITED STATES IS PAYABLE IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER OF PRECEDENCE.
B-156557, APR. 23, 1965
TO MRS. MAE H. BEACH, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, TIME AND PAYROLL SECTION:
ON APRIL 13, 1965, FILE AFESSMA-5, YOU REQUESTED OUR DECISION CONCERNING CERTIFICATION OF A VOUCHER COVERING FINAL PAY AND LUMP-SUM LEAVE PAYMENT DUE IN THE CASE OF MRS. SELMA V. MATTHEWS, LATE EMPLOYEE OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE.
IT IS SHOWN THAT MRS. MATTHEWS DIED ON MARCH 1, 1965, AND WAS NOT SURVIVED BY DESCENDANTS OR PARENTS. WHILE THE DEATH CERTIFICATE INDICATES THAT SHE WAS SURVIVED BY A HUSBAND, RALPH MATTHEWS, WHO PAID HER FUNERAL EXPENSES, THE FILE CONTAINS A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DIVORCE DECREE DATED OCTOBER 2, 1961, SHOWING DISSOLUTION OF THEIR MARRIAGE. IN EXPLANATION THEREOF THERE IS FURNISHED A STATEMENT DATED APRIL 9, 1965, FROM GEORGE G. JEFFERSON, ATTORNEY FOR THE ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE, AS FOLLOWS:
YOU WILL NOTICE ON THE CERTIFICATE OF DEATH, THAT RALPH MATTHEWS IS LISTED AS THE SURVIVING HUSBAND. MR. AND MRS. MATTHEWS WERE DIVORCED AS PER THE ATTACHED DECREE. MR. MATTHEWS HAS REMARRIED AND IS LIVING AT 5112 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, WASHINGTON, D.C. HE IS (SIC) ALSO THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE NEWARK, N.J. EDITION OF THE AFRO-AMERICAN, NEWARK, N.J.
"NO RELATIVE WAS AVAILABLE TO CLAIM MRS. MATTHEWS' BODY FROM THE D.C. MORGUE, AND IN ORDER THAT HIS FORMER WIFE WOULD HAVE A RESPECTABLE BURIAL, MR. MATTHEWS CLAIMED THE BODY AS THE HUSBAND AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BURIAL, AND IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE ESTATE.'
CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED BY DAISY SAMPSON, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE, SUPPORTED BY A CERTIFICATE OF THE COURT SHOWING HER APPOINTMENT AS SUCH. IN VIEW THEREOF YOU ASK WHETHER PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OR WHETHER THE FORMER HUSBAND MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR THE FUNERAL EXPENSES AND THE BALANCE PAID TO THE ADMINISTRATRIX.
UNDER 5 U.S.C. 61F UNPAID COMPENSATION DUE IN THE CASE OF A DECEASED CIVILIAN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE UNITED STATES IS PAYABLE IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER OF PRECEDENCE, (1) THE BENEFICIARY OR BENEFICIARIES DESIGNATED IN WRITING BY THE EMPLOYEE, (2) THE WIDOW OR WIDOWER, (3) THE CHILDREN AND DESCENDANTS OF DECEASED CHILDREN, (4) THE PARENTS OR THE SURVIVOR OF THEM, (5) THE DULY APPOINTED LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OR IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING TO THE PERSON DETERMINED TO BE ENTITLED THERETO UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DOMICILE OF THE DECEDENT.
SINCE THE DECEASED HAD NOT DESIGNATED A BENEFICIARY AND WAS NOT SURVIVED BY A WIDOWER, DESCENDANTS, PARENTS OR EITHER OF THEM, THE AMOUNT DUE IS PAYABLE TO THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE AND THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY BE SO CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.