Charles "Red" Matson received fudge from his daughter to cheer him up after a recent illness.

The chocolate, bought at a bake sale in West Lafayette, was sweet and luscious. It also has an unexpected bonus - a diamond ring.

The ring turned out to be an heirloom of the family of Linda Vancel and Matson's daughter, Linda Rhoades, promptly returned the white gold ring to the distraught owner.

"It's a very sentimental ring," Vancel said.

The ring belonged to her mother, who died 15 years ago. She wore the band for 50 years before passing it on to Vancel.

Vancel lost the ring while making the fudge for the bake sale. She searched her entire house, even going through the trash, to look for the ring.

But to no avail.

In her desperation, she emailed Rhoades in the hope of finding the ring. She was then on vacation but returned the email as soon as she got back.

Rhoades said her father called when he ate the fudge and said, "Well, Linda, it's got chocolate all over it, but it doesn't look adjustable. It's got a stone that's really shiny."

Vancel was only too glad to have her ring back. She said the honesty of the finders restored her faith in people.