Man gets ring back after 57 years

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- An Ohio man said he received an unexpected gift at a funeral home during visitation for his high school sweetheart -- the class ring he gave her 57 years ago.

Joe Lepera, 75, of Akron, whose wife, Vicky, died in December, said he read in newspaper obituaries that his high school girlfriend, Sharon Coddington Gainer, died Oct. 8 and he decided to attend the calling hours Oct. 11 at Campfield-Hickman-Collier funeral home in Barberton, Ohio, the Akron Beacon-Journal reported Tuesday.

Lepera said he was approached at the funeral home by a man who identified himself as Bill Gainer, Sharon's husband of 50 years, and wanted to know if he was his wife's old friend Joe.

"We were talking about five minutes and he said, 'Joe, I have something for you,'" Lepera said. "And I was startled. I said, 'What would that be?' He said 'Put out your hand.' I put out my hand, and he put in my hand this ring. It was my high school graduation ring that I had given her 57 years ago."

Gainer told Lepera that Sharon had asked him to return the ring to its original owner if he showed at the funeral home.

"I really admire her husband and her family," Lepera said. "They were very, very congenial and understanding."