Crisfield, MA – A 79-year-old army veteran who never gave his wife a proper honeymoon has won $50,000 on a lottery scratch-off win and plans to finally do it.
Marion East said he will take his wife of 57 years on a romantic getaway with his winnings.
The ticket was purchased at the Crisfield Oceanic gas station. While stopping in to fill his gas tank, he tried his luck with a few lottery tickets, including a $5 Fat Wallet ticket.
He won the grand prize.
“I bought a few tickets that day and went home to play them,” said Marion. “The very last number I scratched was a matching number. When I scratched the prize, I thought it was only for $50.”
He scratched off more to reveal his win was actually $50,000.
“The retired boat mechanic arrived this week with his wife at Lottery headquarters to claim the big prize,” The Maryland Lottery said in a statement. “They have been married nearly 58 years, and Marion said they never had a honeymoon. He plans to use some of the prize to take his bride away for a long romantic weekend. The winner also plans to pay off bills and invest the rest of the windfall.”
This article was written based on information provided in a news release by the Maryland Lottery.
