Man Leaves $10 Million Lotto Ticket for His Widow

Donald Peters, a 79-year-old man from Danbury, Connecticut, passed away on November 1st -- but left his wife a surprise gift before he went.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on January 05 2009

Donald Peters, a 79-year-old man from Danbury, Connecticut, passed away on November 1st—but left his wife a surprise gift before he went.

For decades, Peters and his wife Charlotte had shared a tradition of buying two state lottery tickets each week. After his death, she was too upset to think about the tickets, and set them aside. When she finally thought to get them checked in December, she brought them into her local grocery store, and was astounded to discover that her husband had purchased a winning ticket. Charlotte would receive a $10 million landslide.

Still shocked by the surprise gift from beyond the grave, Charlotte isn’t sure how she’ll use the money. “I’ve always wanted a Corvette, but I don’t think I’ll buy one. I’ll stick to a small car,” she told the Associated Press. “I’m going to go home and sit and think.”

Peters’ children believe their departed father would have been amused by the situation he created—though a little envious.

“He’d be very mad, he just passed away and she won a lot of money,” said son Brian Peters. “He’d say, ‘Figures!’”

Filed under: General Interest, Weird,

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