Barbara L. Wilmoth v. United States June Wilmoth Haley Florence J. Wilmoth

Appellee Barbara Wilmoth sued the United States in the District Court under 38 U.S.C. § 784, claiming a share in the proceeds of a National Service Life Insurance contract held by her deceased brother. 1 As contemplated by the statute, the United States interpleaded appellant Florence Wilmoth, who was the decedent’s wife, and appellee June Wilmoth Haley, who was another sister.

In 1951 the decedent had designated his mother as the principal beneficiary, and his two sisters as the contingent beneficiaries, of the NSLI policy. His mother died in 1962; and the decedent married appellant in 1963.…