David "Dave" Blanton was the son of George and Mary Blanton. A few years after his parents retired and moved to a farm in Grantville, Dave divorced his wife and moved in with his parents. He worked in Grantville's coal mine. After his mother died from cancer, Dave took her death hard. He became an eccentric survivalist, and came to believe that the end of civilization was near. He had begun hoarding things: guns, ammo, food, water purifiers, survival books (including a copy of The Anarchist's Cookbook), assorted other weapons, and clothing.