Should any member cease to be an employee before becoming eligible to receive either a service or disability retirement allowance as provided by this article, for reasons other than becoming a beneficiary or his death, he thereafter, at any time while not a member of the system, may request in writing, of the board a refund to him of his accumulated contributions, whereupon one hundred percent (100%) of his accumulated contributions then credited to his individual account in the employees’ savings fund, less and except all interest credited to his individual account, shall be refunded to him within one (1) year from the filing of the request. However, from the date of separation of any employee, no further interest shall be credited to his individual account in said fund by the board unless and until such employee again becomes a member of the retirement system.

Should any former member, who has accumulated contributions remaining in the employees’ savings fund, die, or any member die before his retirement becomes effective, one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of his accumulated contributions standing to his credit in the employees’ savings fund, including the accumulated interest therein at the rate of one percent (1%) per annum, at the time of his death shall be paid to such person or persons as shall have been nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the board. If there be no such designated person or persons, then one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of his accumulated contributions shall be paid to his legal representative. However, such payments shall be postponed, at the discretion of the board, for not more than eighteen (18) months.