Paul, 63, and Ruth Ann Sawyer, 61, have been married for 43 years. Forty-two years ago, Paul lost his wedding band in his backyard. Late last month, Paul's son found it buried in the dirt behind their house. Photo by Paul White, The Virginian Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH - Paul Sawyer insisted it was an accident.
After all, he could barely feel his fingers while washing his car on that chilly fall day in 1966. While he was busy lathering up the black Mustang, the wedding band must have slipped off.
Yeah, right, his wife replied.
"You threw it away," Ruth Ann Sawyer said. "You just didn't want the girls you used to hang with to know you were married."
In fact, Paul Sawyer was thrilled in his year-old marriage, especially with the couple's first child on the way.
Then again, the longtime carpenter never did like anything on his fingers.
"Said it might get caught in the saw," Ruth Ann said. "At least that's what he used to tell me."
The two stuck to their stories - and each other - over the next four decades, through three children, nine presidents and, for the past eight years, Paul's battle with multiple myeloma.
"I came close to losing him several times," said Ruth Ann, 61.
She even got her husband to wear another ring, a gold band topped by black onyx and tiny diamonds that Paul, 63, assumed he'd wear the rest of his life.
Then late last month, while digging in the backyard of the family's house in Back Bay, the couple's oldest son, Paul Jr., struck a gold object caked with dirt several inches into the soil.
The son found it interesting. His mother couldn't believe it.
Paul simply cried.
"The prettiest thing I've ever seen," said Paul, who vowed that the only person who will get the ring off his finger now is an undertaker.
"After all this time, I finally have it back."
Not to mention the last word on a 42-year-old dispute.
"I finally proved her wrong. I really didn't throw it away."
Paul White
E-mail: paul.white@pilotonline.com
© The Virginian Pilot
June 4, 2009
USA: After 40-plus years lost, a ring comes full circle
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia / The Virginian-Pilot / June 4, 2009
By Paul White, The Virginian-Pilot
Paul, 63, and Ruth Ann Sawyer, 61, have been married for 43 years. Forty-two years ago, Paul lost his wedding band in his backyard. Late last month, Paul's son found it buried in the dirt behind their house. Photo by Paul White, The Virginian Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH - Paul Sawyer insisted it was an accident.
After all, he could barely feel his fingers while washing his car on that chilly fall day in 1966. While he was busy lathering up the black Mustang, the wedding band must have slipped off.
Yeah, right, his wife replied.
"You threw it away," Ruth Ann Sawyer said. "You just didn't want the girls you used to hang with to know you were married."
In fact, Paul Sawyer was thrilled in his year-old marriage, especially with the couple's first child on the way.
Then again, the longtime carpenter never did like anything on his fingers.
"Said it might get caught in the saw," Ruth Ann said. "At least that's what he used to tell me."
The two stuck to their stories - and each other - over the next four decades, through three children, nine presidents and, for the past eight years, Paul's battle with multiple myeloma.
"I came close to losing him several times," said Ruth Ann, 61.
She even got her husband to wear another ring, a gold band topped by black onyx and tiny diamonds that Paul, 63, assumed he'd wear the rest of his life.
Then late last month, while digging in the backyard of the family's house in Back Bay, the couple's oldest son, Paul Jr., struck a gold object caked with dirt several inches into the soil.
The son found it interesting. His mother couldn't believe it.
Paul simply cried.
"The prettiest thing I've ever seen," said Paul, who vowed that the only person who will get the ring off his finger now is an undertaker.
"After all this time, I finally have it back."
Not to mention the last word on a 42-year-old dispute.
"I finally proved her wrong. I really didn't throw it away."
Paul White
E-mail: paul.white@pilotonline.com
© The Virginian Pilot
Paul, 63, and Ruth Ann Sawyer, 61, have been married for 43 years. Forty-two years ago, Paul lost his wedding band in his backyard. Late last month, Paul's son found it buried in the dirt behind their house. Photo by Paul White, The Virginian Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH - Paul Sawyer insisted it was an accident.
After all, he could barely feel his fingers while washing his car on that chilly fall day in 1966. While he was busy lathering up the black Mustang, the wedding band must have slipped off.
Yeah, right, his wife replied.
"You threw it away," Ruth Ann Sawyer said. "You just didn't want the girls you used to hang with to know you were married."
In fact, Paul Sawyer was thrilled in his year-old marriage, especially with the couple's first child on the way.
Then again, the longtime carpenter never did like anything on his fingers.
"Said it might get caught in the saw," Ruth Ann said. "At least that's what he used to tell me."
The two stuck to their stories - and each other - over the next four decades, through three children, nine presidents and, for the past eight years, Paul's battle with multiple myeloma.
"I came close to losing him several times," said Ruth Ann, 61.
She even got her husband to wear another ring, a gold band topped by black onyx and tiny diamonds that Paul, 63, assumed he'd wear the rest of his life.
Then late last month, while digging in the backyard of the family's house in Back Bay, the couple's oldest son, Paul Jr., struck a gold object caked with dirt several inches into the soil.
The son found it interesting. His mother couldn't believe it.
Paul simply cried.
"The prettiest thing I've ever seen," said Paul, who vowed that the only person who will get the ring off his finger now is an undertaker.
"After all this time, I finally have it back."
Not to mention the last word on a 42-year-old dispute.
"I finally proved her wrong. I really didn't throw it away."
Paul White
E-mail: paul.white@pilotonline.com
© The Virginian Pilot
