Patricia was born and lived in Barrington, Ill., until she finished high school. Then her family moved to Albuquerque, N.M., and she attended the University of New Mexico where she graduated with honors. Her first job was with the British airline in New York City. Then, after two years, she moved to Honolulu where she worked for Qantas, an Australian airline. While in Hawaii, she met her husband, David Farnsworth, a Navy supply officer who was stationed on a ship out of Pearl Harbor.

Her husband's naval career took them throughout the U.S. and to Scotland and Italy. Patricia was very active with wives' clubs, Girl Scout troops, and travels while raising their three children. After David's retirement in 1979, the family moved to Nebraska and Patricia earned a master's degree in psychology at the University of Nebraska. She practiced as a counseling psychologist until she retired. The family continued a nomadic life, moving to Toronto, where they lived for five years.

After the family moved to Nashville, David passed away. Patricia continued her career until she moved to Albuquerque where she lived for 15 years. While there, she belonged to the local MOAA chapter as well as a number of philanthropic organizations.

She now lives in Williamsburg, Va., and is treasurer of the Virginia Peninsula Chapter of MOAA.