Myrtle Dorsey was born in Putnam County, Ohio, USA, on 20 November 1885. She was one of 13 children born to parents Henry Burkmier (1860-1942) and Sarah Troyer (1863-1961). She married Homer O. Dorsey (1879-1964) on 6 June 1917 in Hillsdale County, Michigan, and would have one daughter together. The couple were married for 47 years before Homer’s death in 1964.

When she was in her 40s, she founded one of the country’s first women’s bowling leagues in her hometown of Findlay, Ohio, and would compete in several tournaments throughout the United States over the course of her 60 year career. At the age of 100, she continued to bowl multiple times a week, and only stopped at the age of 103 due to arthritis in her hands preventing her from holding the ball. She continued to live independently until breaking her hip at the age of 102.

Myrtle Dorsey died in her nursing home in Zanesville, Ohio on 25 June 2000, at the age of 114 years, 218 days. At the time of her death, she was only 2 weeks younger than the oldest living person titleholder, Eva Morris.