<Li> Cindy Walton (Leslie Winston), seasons 7 - 9 and four of the reunion movies, Ben's wife </Li> <Li> Rose Burton (Peggy Rea, seasons 8--9 and one sequel), Olivia's matronly cousin who fills in as matriarch during Olivia's absence </Li> <P> Earl Hamner's rural childhood growing up in the unincorporated community of Schuyler, Virginia, provided the basis for the setting and many of the storylines of The Waltons . His family and the community provided many life experiences which aided in the characters, values, area, and human - interest stories of his books, movies, and television series . Hamner provided the voice - over of the older John - Boy, usually heard at the beginning and end of each episode . </P> <P> John - Boy Walton's fictional alma mater, Boatwright University, is patterned after Richmond College, which became part of the University of Richmond on Boatwright Drive near Westham Station in The West End of Richmond, Virginia, about seventy miles east of Schuyler . </P>

Was the waltons tv show based on a real family