Unemployed OC Woman Wins $300,000 in Powerball Drawing

A Huntington Beach resident who had been out of work for two years and had just $500 in her family's bank account was one of nine California Lottery players who matched five of the six numbers in the most recent Powerball drawing, netting each of them nearly $300,000.

Linda Stephens hadn't bought a lottery ticket in three years, but while at a Ralphs grocery store on Warner Avenue this week she became swept up in the Powerball hype.

Her husband woke her this morning with the news that there was a lottery winner in Huntington Beach, who bought the ticket at a Ralphs store, Stephens said.

"He got really excited, but I didn't give it a second thought," Stephens said.

Then she booted up her computer and saw a news story about the lottery and decided to check her numbers -- five of the six matched, winning her $289,341.

"I looked at them again and a third time," she said of the winning numbers. "I called my husband upstairs and by this time I had tears rolling down my cheeks. He said, 'I knew it, I knew it.' "

The money comes just in time, she said. Her husband needs foot surgery and she was debating dropping her health insurance.

"I'm not a very religious person, but I am spiritual and I've been praying for just enough to get us by," Stephens said. "I said, 'Just let me feed everybody' and that's what he gave me, enough to get by. I'm just in awe."

Stephens, who worked in the surf and skating garment industry, was laid off a couple of years ago, and at the age of 60 was finding it difficult to get any type of job.

"In the two years since I got laid off I had just one job interview," Stephens said. "We're not destitute, but we would be in a month."

The windfall will be a nice bridge to Social Security income that she will be eligible for in a couple of years, Stephens said. Her husband wants to take a trip to see his best friend in Texas, but other than that they have no big expenditures planned.

"I'll still use coupons," Stephens said. "Everything will still remain the same, but I don't have to make the decision to drop my health insurance."

- City News Service