Missouri woman reunited with lost class ring after 42 years

Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A Missouri woman who lost her high school class ring 42 years ago was reunited with the long-lost item after it was purchased by a Texas man for $3.25.

Jackie Schauer of Lake St. Louis said her husband recently received a mysterious phone call from a stranger in Texas who asked if he knew a woman with her maiden name.

The caller, San Antonio man Richard Escobedo, said Schauer's class ring was one of several that he has purchased from various locations while on the hunt for his own lost ring.

"I would go to pawn shops, antique stores, anywhere where things were being resold. And I would always look for my class ring, and I would never find it. But I would see other class rings and I would say, 'Man, if these owner only knew their ring was being sold,'" Escobedo told KMOV-TV.

Escobedo said he started buying up the rings he found and using the information from the rings -- school names, dates and initials -- to try to find their owners. He has been documenting his progress on his Facebook page titled Class Rings Bought to Reunite to Rightful Owners.

Escobedo said he recently bought Schauer's ring -- which she received from Morton East High School in Cicero, Ill. -- at a store for $3.25.

Schauer said she discovered the ring still fits, but only on her pinky. She posted a photo of the ring to Escobedo's Facebook group with a message of thanks.

"It is truly very, very interesting what this gentleman does. And I'm grateful. He has a kind soul," Schauer said.