85-Year-Old Metro Man Offers $1,500 Reward For Late Wife’s Lost Ring

A metro man is offering a $1,500 reward -- no questions asked -- to whoever returns a ring he said he lost in the checkout lanes at a metro Walmart.

Robert May, 85, said he was checking out at the Walmart location on Pennsylvania and Memorial in lane 10 when he heard something fall.

“I looked down and I didn’t see anything,” May said. “(I) hadn’t dropped anything out of my hand. I thought the clerk dropped something because she was right over on the other side.”

It took getting home for May to realize he lost one of the most important things to him, a ring his late wife gave to him nearly five decades ago.

May said he checked his vehicle and grocery bags, which came up empty. He also drove back to the Walmart location after realizing the ring was missing and checked the lane. He didn’t find it there, either. 

Each day, May said he calls the Walmart service desk to check if it has been turned into lost and found. So far, no luck.

“She designed it and had it made for my birthday,” May said. “It was at least 40 years ago, between 40 and 50 years back, and I’ve worn it ever since.”

May said he met his wife, Wanda, at the tender age of 14.

The couple was married for 66 years when Wanda died last summer.

May worked as a carpenter, which is why a hammer is etched onto the top of the ring that he would do anything to have back.

May said he can hear his wife now.

“’You’ve got to pay more attention and be more careful,’” May said.

May’s son took to Facebook in an effort to help find the ring.

Anonymous donors helped make a $1,500 reward possible for the family.