Watenpaugh v. State Teacher's Retirement System

This action was brought by the widow of Prank M. Watenpaügh, Sr., a member of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, to determine whether death benefits thereunder should be paid to her or to his children by a previous marriage. The children and the retirement system were joined as defendants.

Mr. Watenpaügh was a teacher at San Diego State College, and in 1944 he executed and filed a designation of beneficiary which named his former wife, since deceased, as primary beneficiary and his children as secondary or contingent beneficiaries. The claim of the children is based on this designation. In…