Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 23, 1994 TAG: 9402230103
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHILHOWIE LENGTH: Short
James Ernest Smith, 72, had been ill for some time. He died Thursday night and was buried Sunday.
Tuesday afternoon, Reba Poling and her two daughters claimed the lottery prize. Poling and Smith had told the Smyth County News last week that they had the winning ticket and were going to split it with her two daughters.
Smith died before the story ran and before the four could meet with a lawyer.
Poling, Terri Poling Carey and Barbara Miller will share $6.4 million dollars - about $218,000 a year, after taxes, for 20 years.
Poling was listed in Smith's obituary as a special friend. She did not return several messages left on her answering machine.
The winning numbers for Feb. 16 were 11-14-27-37-39-44.
Poling told the Smyth County News on Thursday that she watched the drawing on television Wednesday night and thought the numbers looked like the ones Smith had picked.
The ticket was purchased at Food City in Chilhowie.
Margo Cross, assistant manager, said Poling often bought Smith's tickets for him.
"He'd been real sick and everything. I think that she's the one that bought it and he gave her the numbers."
Paula Otto, a lottery spokeswoman, said a winning lottery ticket may be claimed by whoever signs it and shows a picture identification.
People who intend to share lottery winnings should have a written agreement, Otto said.
by CNB