Grand Rapids (Kent County, MI)

Notable Births & Deaths for Grand Rapids ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Grand Rapids. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

Roger Bruce Chaffee (Astronaut)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Roger Bruce Chaffee<1>
- He was born in Grand Rapids on February 15, 1935 (a Friday) and died in Cape Canaveral (FL) on January 27, 1967 (a Friday).
- Cape Canaveral is located in Brevard County, Florida.
- At the time of his death, he was 31.
- He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is located in Arlington County, Virginia.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Arlington National Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Arlington National Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Arlington National Cemetery
John Leonard Lavan (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John Leonard Lavan<1>
- He was born in Grand Rapids on October 28, 1890 (a Tuesday) and died in Detroit (MI) on May 29, 1952 (a Thursday).
- Detroit is located in Wayne County, Michigan.
- At the time of his death, he was 61.
- He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is located in Arlington County, Virginia.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Arlington National Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Arlington National Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Arlington National Cemetery
Colonel Jack Robert Lousma (Astronaut - Skylab 2, USMC, aeronautical engineer)
- He was born in Grand Rapids on February 29, 1936 (a Saturday) (which is Leap Day).
Winsor McCay (Cartoonist, animator)
- Full name: Zenas Winsor McCay
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Winsor McCay<1>
- He was born in Spring Lake (MI) on September 26, 1869 (a Sunday) and died in Brooklyn (NY) on July 25, 1934 (a Wednesday).
- Spring Lake is located in Ottawa County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the west of Grand Rapids (which is located in Kent County).
- Brooklyn is located in Kings County, New York.
- At the time of his death, he was 64.
Benjamin Jenison 'Benny' McCoy (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Benjamin Jenison 'Benny' McCoy<1>
- He was born in Jenison (MI) on January 9, 1915 (a Saturday) and died in Grandville (MI) on November 9, 2011 (a Wednesday).
- Jenison is located in Ottawa County and is 7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids (which is located in Kent County).
- Grandville is located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids. Both communities are located in Kent County.
- At the time of his death, he was 96.
- He is buried at Grandville Cemetery, located nearby and to the southwest of Grand Rapids.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Grandville Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Grandville Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Grandville Cemetery
Benny McCoy (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Benny McCoy<1>
- He was born in Jenison (MI) on January 9, 1915 (a Saturday) and died in Grandville (MI) on November 9, 2011 (a Wednesday).
- Jenison is located in Ottawa County and is 7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids (which is located in Kent County).
- Grandville is located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids. Both communities are located in Kent County.
- At the time of his death, he was 96.
- He is buried at Grandville Cemetery, located nearby and to the southwest of Grand Rapids.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Grandville Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Grandville Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Grandville Cemetery
Walter Clement 'Wally' Pipp (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Walter Clement 'Wally' Pipp<1>
- He was born in Chicago (IL) on February 17, 1893 (a Friday) and died in Grand Rapids on January 11, 1965 (a Monday).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- At the time of his death, he was 71.
- He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, located nearby and to the south southeast of Grand Rapids.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Woodlawn Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Woodlawn Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Woodlawn Cemetery
Don Quinn (Author)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Don Quinn<1>
- He was born in Grand Rapids on November 18, 1900 (a Sunday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on December 30, 1967 (a Saturday).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 67.
- He is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Hollywood Forever Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Jack Rice (Actor)
- Born: Earl Clifford Rice
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Jack Rice<1>
- He was born in Grand Rapids on May 14, 1893 (a Sunday) and died in Woodland Hills (CA) on December 14, 1968 (a Saturday).
- Woodland Hills is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 75.
- He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Valhalla Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Valhalla Memorial Park
Elizabeth Wilson (Actress)
- Full name: Elizabeth Elizabeth Wilson
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Elizabeth Wilson<1>
- She was born in Grand Rapids on April 4, 1921 (a Monday) and died in New Haven (CT) on May 9, 2015 (a Saturday).
- New Haven is located in New Haven County, Connecticut.
- At the time of her death, she was 94.
- She is buried at Oakhill Cemetery, located nearby and to the south southeast of Grand Rapids.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Oakhill Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Oakhill Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Oakhill Cemetery
Dick York (Actor)
- Full name: Richard Allen York
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Dick York<1>
- He was born in Fort Wayne (IN) on September 4, 1928 (a Tuesday) and died in East Grand Rapids (MI) on February 20, 1992 (a Thursday).
- Fort Wayne is located in Allen County, Indiana.
- East Grand Rapids is located nearby and to the southeast of Grand Rapids.
- At the time of his death, he was 63.
- He is buried at Plainfield Cemetery, located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north northeast of Grand Rapids. The cemetery is located in Kent County, Michigan.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Plainfield Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Plainfield Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Plainfield Cemetery
George Zuverink (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for George Zuverink<1>
- He was born in Holland (MI) on August 20, 1924 (a Wednesday) and died in Tempe (AZ) on August 8, 2014 (a Friday).
- Holland is located in Ottawa County and is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids (which is located in Kent County).
- Tempe is located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
- At the time of his death, he was 90.
- He is buried at Green Acres Memorial Park, which is located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Green Acres Memorial Park<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Green Acres Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Grand Rapids to Green Acres Memorial Park

Footnotes ...

<1>	The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.