N.J. Stat. § 43:10-18.58
Subject to the other provisions of this act, any county employee who shall have served or who shall hereafter have served in the employ of such county continuously or in the aggregate for a period of twenty years, and who shall have attained the age of fifty-five years, or who shall regardless of age have served in the employ of such county continuously or in the aggregate for a period of thirty-five years, shall, upon his application, be retired on half pay. Upon and after the death of such employee or pensioner, said retirement pension shall be paid to the surviving widow, so long as she remains unmarried, surviving widower, so long as he remains unmarried, or minor children up to eighteen years of age, as the case may be.
N.J.S. § 43:10-18.58