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POMEROY — There are many happy homecomings when local soldiers return from overseas but for one little family from Meigs County last week’s arrival of a unit stationed in Afghanistan for the past six months was especially nice.

On June 10 the gymnasium at Joint Base Lewis-McChord buzzed with excitement as the soldiers filed in. For all of them returning home was a very special time, but it was extra special for Sgt. Stefan Stamper. There stood his wife, Carrie, holding their 12-week-old twins, Ellah and Evelyn, not before seen by their father. Stefan missed the birth of his daughters.

It seems that the couple had tried for several years to have children without success so they found a surrogate to bring their daughters into the world.

The twins surprised everyone by coming seven weeks early, and their father missed the emergency C-section and the three weeks his daughters spent in the intensive care unit.

A news release from the military on the celebration of the return home of the deployed soldiers tells the story of Sgt. Stamper’s reaction when he spotted his family.

“He walked up to his wife holding their two baby girls, and embraced them all. He was totally speechless.”

Both parents grew up in Meigs County and graduated from Meigs High School. Stefan is the son of Jeff Stamper of Lenoir City, Tenn. and Sara Eades of Rutland, and Carrie is the daughter of Denise Weekley of Middleport and the late Mark Michael.

Carrie and Michael have been married for 7 ½ years and he has been in the army for 7 years. He attended basic training and AIT in Fort Knox, Ky. They were stationed in South Korea for one year, Fort Stewart in Georgia for a time, and are currently stationed at JBLM in Washington State. He was deployed to Iraq from December 2009 to December 2010, and Afghanistan from November 2012 to June 2013. He is a MGS Commander/armorman.

Jack A. Ratliff, 87, of Gallipolis, and formerly of Vinton, Ohio, passed away at his residence on June 18, 2013, after a short battle with cancer. Jack was born March 7, 1926, in Harold, Kentucky. He was the son of the late George B. And Gypsy Layne Ratliff. In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded by his wife of 57 years, Eulavene Ratliff; a son, Russell Arnold; brothers and sisters, Raymond, Buford, Olan, Lois, Betty Jo Ratliff, and daughter-in-law, Judy (French) Ratliff.

Jack was a man of service who early in his life chose to serve his country in the U. S. Army. He participated in our country’s battle for the Philippines as a member of a unit that received two bronze stars. He was honorably discharged and returned to his home where he served his community as a diesel and auto mechanic and later as the owner/operator of Ratliff Auto Service in Vinton, Ohio. Jack was a member of Deer Creek Freewill Baptist Church since 1965 where he served as deacon and Sunday School teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Louise Ratliff, who he married December 6, 2002; four sons, Bill (Linda) Ratliff, Vinton, Ohio, Kenny (Kelli) Ratliff, Gallipolis, Ohio, Bobby (Penny) Ratliff, Evergreen, Ohio, Jim (Debbie) Ratliff, Huntington, West Virginia; seven grandchildren, Jeff, Christie (Mark), Steve, Kelly, Katie, Kari, Brian (Jamie), and ten great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one brother, George Ratliff, Vinton, Ohio, and many special friends including Eddie and Freda Kinney, Vinton, Ohio.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 22, 2013, at the Deer Creek Freewill Baptist Church, Vinton, Ohio, with Pastor Mickey Maynard officiating. Burial will follow in Vinton Memorial Park with full Military Grave Side Rites conducted by Vinton American Legion Post 161. Friends may call at the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Vinton, on Friday, June 21 from 6-8 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Bill, Kenny, Bobby, Jim, Jeff, Steve, Brian and Mark.

Condolences may be sent to mccoymoore.com.