Retiree’s first scratch ticket revealed a six-figure surprise

WIRTZ, Va. — A stop for two packs of M&M’S turned into a $100,000 lottery win after a Franklin County retiree scratched his first ticket and uncovered one of the Virginia Lottery’s top prizes.

Billy Oswald stopped at the Stop In Food Store, 7125 Booker T. Washington Highway in Wirtz, while driving his car instead of his motorcycle. Along with the candy, he purchased several Virginia Lottery scratch-off tickets.

The first ticket he scratched was a Set for Life game, and it revealed the game’s second-tier prize of $100,000.

According to the Virginia Lottery, Oswald said he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The retired Franklin County resident plans to use his winnings to take his wife on a vacation.

Set for Life is one of the Virginia Lottery’s scratch-off games. Lottery officials said three second-tier prizes of $100,000 and two top prizes of $6 million remain unclaimed.

The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 816,000, while the odds of winning any prize in the game are 1 in 3.7.

Virginia Lottery profits support K-12 education throughout the Commonwealth.

Key Points

• A Franklin County retiree won $100,000 playing the Virginia Lottery’s Set for Life scratch-off game.
• Billy Oswald bought the winning ticket during a stop for two packs of M&M’S at a Wirtz convenience store.
• He plans to use the prize money to take his wife on a vacation.