Mary Ellen Walton

Mary Ellen, third oldest child and the oldest daughter, is a conflicting mix of the whiny, vain, and typically girlish rival of Mary Rose Coverdale, and the rebellious tomboy vying for the affections of the awkward G.W. Haines. In later seasons Mary Ellen loses some of this childishness and matures into a wiser woman.

INSP viewers chose their favorite Walton – here’s what some said about Mary Ellen…

From ~ Tammy, Virginia

I grew up watching The Waltons, and even though I love all of the characters, Mary Ellen is my favorite. I loved that she was smart, independent, and wanted to help others. She inspired me to become a nurse. So, at 45 years of age, I finally became a nurse!

From ~ Kat, North Carolina

Mary Ellen was a lot like me when I was a teenager. I could identify with her character. I was spirited and independent, as a teenager, yet appreciated my family. I have fond memories of watching The Waltons growing up. My dad would bring home chips and dip, and soda after he got off work and we’d watch The Waltons together. Watching The Waltons today brings back fond memories. Thank you.

From ~ Teressa, Virginia

I compare myself to Mary Ellen. I was a tomboy growing up myself just like her. Then I had to go through all of the coming of age stuff that she had to go through with my grandparents and parents. She got married and had a baby and I did too about the same age as her. She is a devoted, loving wife and mom and I feel that I am as well. I am a grandmother now. I don’t know if she is or not but if so I know she is a loving and caring grandmother. I have watched The Waltons growing up my whole life. I am almost 45 years old now and I still love watching The Waltons. I have my grandsons with me sometimes. They sit with me and we watch it together. Knowing that I watched it with my grandparents and parents when I was young, is one of the best feelings in the world. I love all the Waltons, but I see myself more in Mary Ellen.

From ~ Karen, Alabama

Mary Ellen was always my favorite Walton. She and I are about the same age. As a teenager, I never missed The Waltons on Thursday nights. I thought Mary Ellen was very pretty and I loved her spunk. I was a tomboy too so I could certainly relate to her. She had that little “wild” streak in her too which I admired because she didn’t let anyone push her around. I watched her grow into a very beautiful young woman. All she ever wanted to be was a Nurse and I admired her for sticking with her ambition even though she had a few obstacles along the way. I loved the show of her engagement and wedding. She did what was right in her heart even though she knew she was hurting David. The birth of John Curtis, her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor portrayed just how strong a person she was. I DVR the re-runs every day and watch them every night. It is so refreshing to have these shows to watch compared to what is on television today. I would love to have the whole DVD set because I think that I am probably the biggest Walton fan around!! Thank you.

From ~ Mary, Washington

She was very smart, yet caring and sensitive. She fought hard for what she believed in, no matter what.

From ~ Cindy, Georgia

Mary Ellen was outspoken, and knew what she wanted out of life. She was a feminist in a lot of ways. Even though she seemed tough on the outside, she was really a kind, loving person. I would like to take this opportunity to thank INSP for returning The Waltons to TV-it is a show I grew up on-I am 51 years old now, and I love these shows now as much as I did when they first aired. There is quite a shortage of quality TV shows now-and I rarely watch any of the newer shows. I have been an only child since I was 7, when my older sister died, and watching shows with a lot of kids was wonderful.

From ~ Barbara, Indiana

I now realize that I idolized Mary Ellen when I was growing up. She was strong and free spirited, not afraid to speak her mind or stand up for what she thought was right even if sometimes others in her family did not agree. She understood traditions and why she was being raised the way she was, but she also realized that she was different from the others and that times were changing. She inspired me and was a good role model. From her example I feel I was able to be stronger in some situations than I would have been. And she was tall! There were times I wish I was Mary Ellen, growing up in her family.

From ~ Karen, New York

Mary Ellen gives me a glimpse of who my beloved mother (who I lost this year) was. My mom (born 1918) was the oldest girl of the family, lived in a home where her dad ran a sawmill, and loved her big brother, as well as all the younger ones. She was very close to her grandfather, loved sports, and was a bit of a strong-willed tomboy. When I watch Mary Ellen, I feel like I am blessed to learn just a bit about my mom’s life in the country as a happy girl.

From ~ Gloria, Rhode Island

I loved Mary Ellen because she was a tomboy like me, yet she also wanted to be a movie star one day. In the end, she devoted herself to the selfless calling of nursing, practicing in the hills where the poorest people needed the medical attention the most. She was never afraid to speak her mind or go after what she wanted. She worked hard at anything if it would get her to the goal she had set for herself, such as learning algebra and chemistry in order to get into Nursing School. Mary Ellen is an excellent role model for teenage girls today.

From ~ Kathy, Michigan

I have watched the Waltons since I was a little girl. I looked up to Mary Ellen. She seemed well grounded and centered growing up. She knew what she wanted when she was a child and did not stop until she accomplished the task at hand. At 42yrs, I became a nurse as she was in the show. I do my very best to care for my patients with the utmost integrity, love and care.

From ~ Debbie, Missouri

She is so very independent and is willing to try any and everything. I have alot of respect for her.

From ~ Erin, New York

Mary Ellen is my favorite because she was the oldest girl like me and always knows what she wants! She was a tomboy growing up, much like me.

From ~ Beverly, Georgia

My favorite Walton is Mary Ellen. She and I are about the same age, and it was always fun watching her experiences because I could relate to her so well. I watched The Waltons when it was first on television, and still enjoy watching it as an adult!

From ~ Emily, South Carolina

Mary Ellen stood up for what she wanted, but always put her family first.

From ~ Carole, South Carolina

LOL. It started because growing up all of the family would say I looked (and acted) like her. She may have been just a tad bit stubborn and focused, yet she had such a soft loving heart. She grew up into quite a young lady.

From ~ Karen, Massachusetts

Mary Ellen was closest to my age and I could identify with her the most. The entire family however reminded me of my own family, growing up in a family of ten children. Unfortunately, I did not have my grandparents to grow up with and that aspect of The Waltons was special to me as well, to see Grandma and Grandpa as such an important part of the children’s lives was heartwarming.

From ~ Wendy, New Mexico

She was “spunky” and had her own mind. Whether it was taking on the boys or falling in love, she followed her heart, her dreams and held her own.

From ~ Mary Ann, South Carolina

She is strong headed and determined just like me.

From ~ Kathy, Pennsylvania

Mary Ellen is my favorite Walton. I like her because on the show she is a nurse, and I am a nurse in real life. Her character cares about people, and she stands up for her beliefs.

From ~ The Brown Family, Mississippi

We are fascinated with that era of time and that big family, what they go through and the history of the time. What they went through, their morals, and how they raised their family is very important. My dad said that’s how it was when he was a boy. We love them all, but Mary Ellen is the one we picked as our favorite.

From ~ Jeanne, Georgia

You never know what she will do next.

From ~ Trisha Ellen Miller, Iowa

To pick just ONE Walton is like eating just one potato chip…you can’t have just one favorite. However, being forced to choose, I pick Mary Ellen. This is ironic for me since I was the baby of my family, you would think I would be voting for Elizabeth, sorry kiddo! Why Mary Ellen? In the early years, I loved how Mary Ellen was a tomboy, preferring to play catch with GW than cooking or doing other domestic chores with Oliva and Grandma. Oh, how I can relate to this feeling! And too, the way she would fanagle with the junk man to earn extra money. It’s like eBay before the internet existed! In the later years, she found her passion in nursing. Then, she had to overcome the cultural challenge of the mountain people. Loved it all! Even though in so many ways the Walton family seemed to stay somewhat sheltered from the harsh reality of the outside world and hard times, Mary Ellen always faced real trials and challenges, making her seem like a real person with real problems, many having nothing to do with the depression or WWII. From wanting to pursue education beyond being a nurse and forging a new trail in education and in healthcare, to overcoming her addiction to pills, being a faithful military wife then raising a child as a single mother, she was about as real as anyone could be. I respect that Mary Ellen was in many ‘real world’ experiences despite being sheltered in the mountains in a generation where many of the topics were ‘taboo’ to discuss and many viewpoints new for women. There is a lot to be said for the role she played, the many subtle (and some not so subtle) points she made, and the way she portrayed her subject so sincerely. If I was the baby in the Walton family, she would definitely be a big sister to look up to and an inspirational role model. Being inspiring to others is a priceless gift to give and to recieve. Thanks a thousand times over for playing The Waltons every evening. It’s the first thing I turn on when I get home from work. I have wanted The Waltons series on DVD for a very long time so was thrilled to see this contest. I’m one of the biggest Waltons fans of all time!

From ~ Martha, Missouri

She was always the one that wanted to reach for the stars. She became a nurse then proved she was able to do what a man could by becoming a doctor. She always believed she could do anything and that is what taught the kids.

From ~ Sheila, Tennesse

Mary Ellen wanted to be an independant woman before such things were socially acceptable. She didn’t understand why some things were boy things and some were girl things. Why couldn’t they just be things that she wanted to do as opposed to things she was supposed to want to do.

From ~ Ruth, Arkansas

Mary Ellen has spirit and strives to achieve her goals in life as being a nurse and then going on to be a doctor. This was unheard of in those times. Mary Ellen achieved her goals setting an example for women then and for the future. She was my inspiration to become a nurse. I became a nurses aide and was very happy in caring for my patients and individuals that where hospitalizated. I enjoyed listening to their stories just like Mary Ellen did.

From ~ June, Virginia

My favorite Walton was Mary Ellen because I was exactly like her at that time. I went through experiences and emotions that she did and all I ever wanted was to be a nurse. She was the one who was torn between wanting to get away from the mountain, family and their traditional ways and experiencing all the new things in the world. In the end, she found a way to have both!!!