She was born in Los Angeles, but soon moved to Camarillo, California, where her mother, Dora Bell Cawelti Newman, had been born and raised. Her father, Reginald Newman, joined Dora's father, Andy Cawelti, in his farming operation. Pat was joined two years later by a sister, Marjorie Carol, and the two girls were lifelong friends. They both attended Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Camarillo (as had Dora before them and as would Pat's daughters Sally and Nora later on). Growing up on the ranch they went barefoot, rode horses, and watched birds through the kitchen window at breakfast, and Pat loved birds all her life.