After a week of searching, Carol Schulte’s body was found Monday evening, May 30, in the Meramec River in Arnold, the St. Louis County Police Department reported.
At 4 p.m., a boater found her body in the water near the bank close to the end of Cecos Lane, said Grant Bissell, spokesman for the Jefferson’s County Sheriff's office.
Schulte, 72, of Ballwin was last seen May 23 near the Al Foster Memorial Trailhead, 225 Grand Ave., in Wildwood.
There were no obvious signs of trauma to her body, according to St. Louis County Police.
Carol’s stepson, Tim Schulte, the pastor at The River at Eureka, said his mother often walked the trail.
Tim said his father, Len Schulte, became worried on May 23 when Carol did not return home at her usual time at about 9 a.m.
Members of the St. Louis County Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Eureka Fire Protection District and Metro West Fire Protection District, as well as volunteers held several searches for Carol over the past week, according to a message the family posted on Facebook.
Rockwood School District officials said Schulte was a bus monitor for students enrolled in the district’s early childhood program.
"She would routinely make trips to the school libraries to pick out books to read to students on the bus,” according to a written statement from the district. “We are providing counseling and grief resources to our staff and families who need it. Carol positively impacted our students, and she was a lovely friend and colleague. She will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and friends and everyone who knew and loved her."