Dorothy Jean Buffington was born in Elm Grove, Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia on April 28, 1929. According to her Social Security record, her parents were Floyd L. Buffington, a building contractor, and Mary E. Hewitt, both born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1930 Federal Census, Dorothy had two older brothers, Floyd and James. By 1940, she had additional siblings - Mary M., Betty, Joseph and Robert.

Dorothy Jean married Edward Pritts and they lived in Lorain, Ohio. She died on July 3, 1994.