How to find relatives that may or may not exist?

Question

My mother recently commented that she wonders if she has any brothers or sisters that she has never met. Her father ran around a bit when he was married to my grandmother and mom wonders if there were any other children besides her brothers and sister that may be around somewhere.

I'm wondering how I would go about finding out? My grandfather's last name was Buff. He lived in NC during the 40's. We do know that he ran around with a woman named Mira at one point. She was supposed to be a redhead I believe. Not sure where he liked to run off to, but I think I heard he liked Florida from time to time.

Answer 1

You could try www.familysearch.org

It is a free database to research genealogy. I found my dad had died about a month before I looked.

Answer 2

There really isn't a way, other than posting a message on a people search board but even that might not turn up any answers. Birth records from the 1940s are generally private (though ancestry.com has an index of NC births - if you message me with your grandfathers full name I can look for you), and any child born out of wedlock may not have been told who their biological father was.