If any sheriff's employee, after having been retired on half pay, shall die leaving his surviving widow who was his wife at the time of his retirement, such widow, so long as she shall remain unmarried, shall receive a pension equal to one-half the amount of the annual salary of such sheriff's employee at the time of his retirement. A "widower" shall receive the same benefits as a "widow" receives pursuant to this section.
N.J.S. § 43:10-67