Sophia Klinger was born in Pennsylvania on January 1885 to John Klinger and Anna Eckman, both born in Germany. In 1900 the family was living on Monticello Street, City of Pittsburgh. The father was a laborer-Brewer. Sophia's siblings were John S., Mary M., and Harry L.

At the time of the 1910 Federal Census, Sophia, age 24, was a student nurse, living at the Nurses' Residence at St. Francis Hospital. She is also listed with her family on Monticello Street. The father had died of a cerebral hemorrhage on March 2, 1908, at the age of 47. Sophia is listed as a Trained Nurse.

By 1920, the mother, Anna Klinger, was living on Campania Street with daughter, Sophia, "Nurse, City," and son, Harry, a Freight Station worker. Her death record indicates she was a nurse at the Bureau of Child Welfare.

In 1930, Sophia, 44, was still with her widowed mother, Anna, 65, and a 16 year old boy, Paul H., who was Anna's grandson. Sophia was single and employed as a Registered Nurse. Their residence was Verona Boulevard, Pittsburgh.

Sophia Klinger, Nurse, died of a cerebral hemorrhage on June 4, 1939. Her birth date is not stated on her death record, and her age was estimated, based on information provided by a brother, Harry. She was buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Penn Hills, Allegheny County.