Mary Jean Eglinas of Gainesville, Fla. and Martha’s Vineyard, died on Dec. 10, She was 92.

Born July 5, 1919 in New Bedford, she was the first child of Antone F. and Mary C. White. Shortly after, the family moved to Martha’s Vineyard, where her brothers and sisters were born.

Mary spent her formative years on the Vineyard. She later moved to New Bedford to work in a doctor’s office with the hopes of someday becoming a nurse. However, at the start of World War II Mary switched careers and became an inspector at the Goodyear factory in New Bedford, where blimps were made for England to help fight off the German air assault,

In May of 1946 Mary and Richard J. Eglinas were married. Richard (Eggie, as he was known) was serving on the Vineyard at the Naval Air Station when they met. After the marriage they moved to Hartford, Mich., Richard’s hometown. Nine years later the Eglinas family moved to Dania, Fla., a place Mary loved, raised her family and called home for 50 years before moving to Gainesville, Fla. with Richard to be closer to her daughter and family.

Mary was predeceased by her sister, Evelyn White, and brother, Joseph White. She is survived by her loving husband, Richard, of Gainesville, Fla. and brothers, George White, Albert White, Lester White, and sister, Katherine Mazza (all still on the Vineyard). She is also survived by her two children, Walter (Terry) Eglinas of the Vineyard and Sheryl Ryland of Alachua, Fla. Mary is also survived by her granddaughter, Taj Rene and husband, Richard O’Sullivan, and the apple of her eye, great-grandson Ryland O’Sullivan of Orlando, Fla. Mary had many nieces and nephews to whom she was like a second mother and will be greatly missed.

Funeral arrangements are to be determined.