SOLVED. Post-Apocalypse; Starts with Main Character bitten by a rattle snake [s]

[Janka]

1930's (?) California. The main character is a geology graduate student who gets bitten by a rattlesnake. When he finally makes it back into town, all the people have disappeared. He finds some other survivors, and they rebuild civilization.
I read this as a dime store paperback in the 1980's, and only clued into how old it was by the character's constant search for automobile tires.

[MB]

Sounds like Earth Abides

[Janka]

That sounds right. Thanks!