Jim Bob

[jeeeprose]

does anyone know the story of JimBob? Did he ever marry or have children? I know he lived in the original house until he became sick--

[flyaway]

Found this!

Los Angeles Times

April 05, 2004

James Hamner, 67, youngest son in a family depicted in television's "The Waltons," died Thursday in Charlottesville, Va., of unspecified causes. He had suffered from emphysema and heart problems.

As the youngest of eight siblings, James Hamner was the model for the character Jim-Bob Walton. He had moved to Charlottesville in December after selling the family home in the small Virginia town of Schuyler. The Hamners had owned the house for more than a century.

His older brother, Earl, model for the series' John-Boy character, wrote books and the television show based on his family's experiences living in Schuyler. The program, which ran from 1972 to 1981, depicted a large close-knit family in Depression-era Virginia.

James Hamner served in the Army, then worked for a few years as a bank manager. He spent 35 years as a systems analyst at the University of Virginia before retiring in 2000.

[JeriJet]

Thanks for this.

Hmmmm...... systems analyst is good (makes sense) ..... but, wish it had been at NASA or with an airline !!

[tracilynn]

Thank you Flyaway for the great info!

[flyaway]

Shame he sold the family home, wonder who lives there now and if they still get tourist through?

[Brenda]

No one lives there now. A lady named Pam Rutherford bought it and restored it, and offers tours. I have been through the house since she has done these renovations and it is very nice. Earl Hamner talks about it in his latest blog post:

"The Hamner home is today listed on the Register of Historic Homes in Virginia and is owned by a local family. The house was a "company house" built in the 20’s and needed repair. Pam Rutherford, the present owner, renovated it and refurnished it and today there is a tour of it for a modest fee."

Earl Hamner's Blog: You, Me, and the Lamp Post

[mercantile]

Fascinating information. :-)

[carol]

I thought Nancy the counterpart of Elizabeth was the youngest sibling?

[mercantile]

Jul 26, 2012 17:47:43 GMT -5 carol said:

I thought Nancy the counterpart of Elizabeth was the youngest sibling? [/quote

A very good point. I guess eight became seven eventually..

[Brenda]

There are some photos of the house (inside and outside) in my 2010 reunion album.
picasaweb.google.com/110664976418289113661/TheWaltonsReunionOctober2010?authuser=0&feat=directlink

[maxwalton]

I always thought it ironic that if you forget the post-series Walton reunion movies and merely take the characters into the future in parallel with their Hamner counterparts, Jim Bob, the Walton who was always threatening to run away, drive away, or fly away would end up being the last Walton to live in the old house.

[mercantile]

Jul 26, 2012 18:43:10 GMT -5 maxwalton said:

I always thought it ironic that if you forget the post-series Walton reunion movies and merely take the characters into the future in parallel with their Hamner counterparts, Jim Bob, the Walton who was always threatening to run away, drive away, or fly away would end up being the last Walton to live in the old house.

Nice.

[jeeeprose]

I thought the same thing. Why did he let it get so shabby--why did not Earl help keep the house up?

[jeeeprose]

I am beginning to think that the house was always shabby--most of the area is today!!!

[JeriJet]

Jul 28, 2012 11:30:41 GMT -5 jeeeprose said:

I thought the same thing. Why did he let it get so shabby--why did not Earl help keep the house up?

Possibly because Earl had developed some "issues" as time went by -- with the town and surrounds, and some of the folks..... Still, I assume he remained close to his brother. Odd....