&lt;div class=&#34;meta &#34;&gt;&lt;span class=&#34;caption-text &#34;&gt;Ralph Waite, who played the father, John Walton, Sr., in TV&#38;#39;s hit series &#38;#34;The Waltons,&#38;#34; has died at age 85 in Palm Springs. &#40;AP Photo &#38;#47; AP&#41;&lt;&#47;span&gt;&lt;&#47;div&gt;