Season 8

October 4, 1979

Mary Ellen subs as the county nurse. John tries to prove to the army that he really did graduate from high school. John can not find his diploma so he takes another test.

October 11, 1979

Olivia says the mountain needs a day nursery for children of defense plant workers. Corabeth thinks that Ike has a girlfriend when she sees Rose teaching him to dance.

October 18, 1979

The film company comes to Walton's Mountain and Pickett plant is used for a war-time documentary. Erin is convinced by the director that she has potential in Hollywood.

October 25, 1979

A publisher asks permission from John and Olivia about printing the new book that John-Boy wrote in Europe. Jeff does not want Reckless put to sleep after Reckless becomes sick.

November 1, 1979

Ashley Longworth Jr. comes back and asks Erin to be his wife. She has some serious doubts after he says he has lost his faith in God.

November 8, 1979

Olivia searches for a soldier's wife at the request from the Red Cross. The soldier's wife won't answer her husband's letters. Corabeth expects an inheritance.

November 22, 1979

To be near John-Boy who is in a coma, Olivia joins the Red Cross. Rose plans the big Thanksgiving dinner. John and Olivia spend Thanksgiving in Richmond Hospital with John-Boy.

November 29, 1979

Jim-Bob meets Betsy, a married woman and falls in love with her while delivering her a package.

December 13, 1979

All of Jefferson County watched with wonder when Mary Ellen and Erin decide to venture even farther into a mans world.

December 20, 1979

There's an escapee from a POW camp in North Carolina hiding on Walton's Mountain and he is befriended by Jeffrey. They ask him in on Christmas Eve.

December 27, 1979

Cindy gets a book from Corabeth on how to be the perfect wife and Cindy resolves to cater to Ben's every need. Jeffrey takes home a cat and names her Harold, until the cat gives birth to kittens.

January 3, 1980

There's a recruit working for Jason's company who is Jewish. He tells how his grandfather was arrested and killed by German soldiers in Warsaw.

January 10, 1980

Hazel Lamphere, the new school teacher, comes to Walton's Mountain and Elizabeth is immediately attached to her. Virginia is born to Cindy and Ben.

January 17, 1980

Josh and Jeffrey break into Godsey's store and are in trouble with the law. After being humiliated by a solider in uniform, Ben decides to enlist.

January 24, 1980

Zadoc Walton, Zeb's cousin, arrives to keep a 21 year old promise and makes a surprising contribution to Boatwright University.

January 31, 1980

Mamie Baldwin makes it through a difficult operation with Grandma's help.

February 7, 1980

When John's equipment breaks down and Jim-Bob breaks his, John decides maybe he has had enough. Jeffrey builds himself a soapbox car sponsored by Godsey's store.

February 14, 1980

Rose's ex-boyfriend Stanley Perkins arrives on Waltons Mountain and he makes a re-acquaintance with Rose.

February 21, 1980

John-Boy returns home physically cured but he still suffers from a loss of memory. Ike gets arrested for draft evasion because he ignores a letter from the Army.

February 28, 1980

Mary Ellen receives a medal that was awarded to Curtis after he died. A former friend of Corabeth visits; he and Corabeth begin to see each other. Ike is concerned.

March 13, 1980

Jim-Bob graduates as class valedictorian and Erin finds out that Ashley Longsworth Jr married a girl in London. The Walton boys join the War.