If a member of this plan shall die before retirement by reason of an injury received in, or illness caused by the performance of his or her duty, a death allowance shall be paid, beginning from the day next following the date of death, to the member's surviving spouse throughout such spouse's life or until his or her remarriage. If the member, at the time of death, was qualified for voluntary service retirement, but had not retired, the allowance payable shall be equal to the retirement allowance which the member would have received if he or she had been retired for service on the day of death, but such allowance shall not be less than fifty (50) percent of his or her final compensation. If death occurs prior to qualification for voluntary service retirement, the allowance payable shall be equal to fifty (50) percent of his or her final compensation. (Prior code § 34.05.525)