John's old army buddy, Tip Harrison, tries to cover his lack of success with childish actions and comments culminating in an accidental fire and the shooting of reckless the family dog.

John Boy falls in love with Jenny Pendleton who returns to Walton's Mountain. Jenny's father and new step-mother follow her to the mountain. Her father is killed in an auto accident and Jenny returns home with her step mother. John-Boy suffers his first lost love.

A neighbor lady, Verdie Grant asks John-Boy to teach her to read and write. He agrees to teach her as he helps Elizabeth. Things go wrong, however, and feelings get hurt.

An inexperienced but brilliant young sub teacher wreaks havoc in the Walton's Mountain School. Because of her insecurity, she refuses advice from anyone until Olivia steps in.

John-Boy experiences a heart ache because Miss Hunter, his teacher, starts dating Reverend Fordwick.

Grandma's 68th birthday is here and the 2 faces of age are keenly felt by her as Grandma is confronted by old age. Mary Ellen, now 14 years old, poses an impossible barrier between her and a college student who lays claim to her heart.

Wedding plans for the daughter of a friend go awry when the mountain custom of kidnapping the groom get out of hand

Erin Walton is considering marrying her boyfriend Paul but her old boyfriend Ashley would like to get her back, Paul is not going to give her up so easily. Also Mary Ellen's boyfriend Jonesy is a veterinarian trying to establish a practice but nobody thinks he is competent.