Missing for nearly a quarter century, Arnold Simpson's high school class ring may not fit exactly as remembered, but the memories are the still the same after having it returned last week.
"I hadn't seen it since I took it off and went into the Army," Simpson said.
The 1989 Twin Rivers graduate took off his ring shortly after graduation and joined the Army.
His ring was tucked into a safe his mother, Judith, kept over the years.
In 1994, the safe was stolen from Judith's motor home in Bentonville, Ark., while working and traveling with Walmart. It also contained Simpson's stepfather's military ring, police ring, wedding rings and old coins.
Fast forward 24 years later to Lake Fayetteville in Arkansas where Susan Burns and her husband were cooling off after an afternoon of metal detecting.
"I kicked the ring up in the sand," Burns said while visiting the lake about 25 miles from Bentonville. "It was like a diamond in the dust."
Bearing the name "Arnold," initials "A.A.S." and "Twin Rivers High School," Burns decided to do some research that would hopefully put her on track to finding the ring's owner.
"To me it was kinda like karma," she said. "I lost my car keys a couple days before with stuff that could not be replaced."
After praying, Burns reported her keys were returned to a nearby business.
"I believe what goes around comes around," she said. "I knew this ring meant something to someone and I had to get it back to them."
After becoming frustrated and hitting a dead end in her search, Burns' husband took over and was able to find a phone number for Twin Rivers High School over five hours away in Missouri.
High school secretary Lyn Stockton took the phone call and collected the information on the ring. She was told the initials, name "Arnold," class year and a Royal was on the ring to verify it was indeed from a Twin Rivers student.
Looking back at the class of 1989, Stockton was able to find an Arnold Simpson and his middle initial was "A."
High school Principal Misti Lovelace then took to Facebook and found an Arnold Simpson who attended Twin Rivers High School, so she messaged him with information about the ring.
Simpson had his reservations when first receiving Lovelace's message, unsure if he was involved in a scam. But after hearing the description of his ring, Simpson realized it was possible he would see his high school ring once again.
"It made me feel good to know Lyn and I could help return a ring he had lost so long ago," Lovelace said.
After speaking with Lovelace, Simpson reached out to Burns and the two spoke for some time.
Asking if he owed Burns anything for returning his long-lost ring, she quickly replied "he did not owe her a thing," the gratitude was enough.
"I'm very happy for him," Burns said. "He deserves this and I'm honored I could do this for a veteran."
Burns added she believes God placed the ring in her path to return it to its owner.
Simpson is very appreciative of Burns and her efforts to do the right thing.
After having the ring cleaned, Burns shipped it to Simpson, who received his piece of jewelry last Saturday. The two have continued to stay in touch throughout the week.
With each high school reunion, Simpson said he thought of his ring and it has became more important to him as he has gotten older.
"My 30-year reunion is coming up and I thought about getting a new ring made," he said.
Burns said it filled her heart with joy after hearing Simpson's story and knowing how much it meant to have his ring back.
"How many people would take the time to get something back to you," Simpson asked. "You read about this type of stuff, but never think about it happening to you. It was like finding a needle in a haystack, a big haystack."