Judy O'Bannon's marital bliss complicates pension

When former Indiana first lady Judy O'Bannon wed attorney Donald Willsey in November, she described it as "almost a miracle" that the two of them were united so late in life.

At the time, she was 78 and he was 84. They were set up on a date by mutual friends.

Both were widowed after long marriages. Democrat Gov. Frank O'Bannon died suddenly in 2003, while in office, and Willsey's wife, Virginia, passed away in 2010.

Then a second chance at love came along. But little did Judy O'Bannon know of the financial consequences of her new marriage, state lawmakers said.

Later, it was discovered that a provision in state law concerning state employee pensions specifies that if a governor's spouse remarries then that person will lose the governor's pension.

That information made its way through political circles, and legislative leaders of both parties agreed that the law needed to be changed.

They researched the law and found out it was an antiquated provision that applied only to the spouse of a governor who remarries. Other state employees in similar circumstances aren't affected.

So, lawmakers decided to delete that provision via House Bill 1075, a bill related to public pensions. The bill passed the legislature and is awaiting Gov. Mike Pence's signature.

Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said if Judy O'Bannon lost any pension in the meantime, it will be reinstated.

"It was the right thing to do," said Long. He said she served beside Gov. O'Bannon during his years in office and she earned the pension.

"It was one of the good things we were able to do this session."