Barbara Buchanan was born in 1931 to Gertrude Woelfle (1898-175) and Victor Buchanan (1899-1981). She was the youngest of three siblings, with a brother Ross Buchanan (?-1997) and sister Phyllis Buchanan Orr (1929-?). Her maternal grandparents were shoe magnate Wellington Ervin Woelfle (1873-1949) and Lydia McEwan (1873-1952).

Barbara was born and raised in Kitchener, attended Ovenden School in Barrie, and subsequently Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. After school she moved to Hamilton, and worked for the Blood Donor Clinic and the Canadian Red Cross, before moving back to Kitchener to live in the family home. Barbara had many pastimes, including supporting the Hamilton Tiger Cats, golfing and curling at the Westmount Golf and Country Club, and driving her Triumph TR at British Sport Car Club events.

Barbara lived in the home at 123 Young Street that was occupied by her grandparents, and later her aunt, until her passing in 2022.