Dorothy Louise Mentz was born on August 21, 1934, daugher of Homer Kelly Mentz and Emma Mohar. Dorothy married Harold Sowder at the age of 16 in 1951. Four years later, Dorothy's mother filed for divorce on her behalf in February 1955 as Dorothy was unable to since she was under the age of 21. The news article was published in Beckley, West Virginia on February 24, 1955. Dorothy married Billie Hodge in October 1959 in Palm Beach, Florida.