Subject to the other provisions of this act, upon and after the death of any county employee who shall have served or who shall hereafter have served in the employ of the county continuously or in the aggregate for a period of 1 year, there shall be paid to the surviving widow, so long as she remains unmarried, surviving widower, so long as he remains unmarried, or minor children up to the age of 18 years, as the case may be, 2 1/2 % of the salary of such employee, and for each additional year of service more than 1 year, the amount of said pension shall be increased to the extent of 2 1/2 % of said salary, not exceeding in any event 25% of the final compensation but not less than $2,500.00.
N.J.S. § 43:10-18.62