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)
  • He was born in Grand Rapids on February 15, 1935 (a Friday) and died in Cape Canaveral (FL) on January 27, 1967 (a Friday) at the age of 31. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington County, Virginia).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Roger Bruce Chaffee<1>
• 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
  • He was born in Spring Lake (MI) on September 26, 1869 (a Sunday) and died in Brooklyn (NY) on July 25, 1934 (a Wednesday) at the age of 64.
  • Spring Lake is located 27 miles [43.5 km] to the west of Grand Rapids.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Winsor McCay<1>
• Benjamin Jenison 'Benny' McCoy     (Major League Baseball)
  • He was born in Jenison (MI) on January 9, 1915 (a Saturday) and died in Grandville (MI) on November 9, 2011 (a Wednesday) at the age of 96. He is buried at Grandville Cemetery (Kent County, Michigan).
  • Jenison is located 7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids.
  • Grandville is located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Benjamin Jenison 'Benny' McCoy<1>
• Benny McCoy     (Major League Baseball)
  • He was born in Jenison (MI) on January 9, 1915 (a Saturday) and died in Grandville (MI) on November 9, 2011 (a Wednesday) at the age of 96. He is buried at Grandville Cemetery (Kent County, Michigan).
  • Jenison is located 7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids.
  • Grandville is located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Benny McCoy<1>
• Walter Clement 'Wally' Pipp     (Major League Baseball)
  • He was born in Chicago (IL) on February 17, 1893 (a Friday) and died in Grand Rapids on January 11, 1965 (a Monday) at the age of 71. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery (Kent County, Michigan).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Walter Clement 'Wally' Pipp<1>
• Don Quinn     (Author)
  • He was born in Grand Rapids on November 18, 1900 (a Sunday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on December 30, 1967 (a Saturday) at the age of 67. He is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Don Quinn<1>
• Jack Rice     (Actor)
  • Born: Earl Clifford Rice
  • He was born in Grand Rapids on May 14, 1893 (a Sunday) and died in Woodland Hills (CA) on December 14, 1968 (a Saturday) at the age of 75. He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Jack Rice<1>
• Elizabeth Wilson     (Actress)
  • Full name: Elizabeth Elizabeth Wilson
  • She was born in Grand Rapids on April 4, 1921 (a Monday) and died in New Haven (CT) on May 9, 2015 (a Saturday) at the age of 94. She is buried at Oakhill Cemetery (Kent County, Michigan).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Elizabeth Wilson<1>
• Dick York     (Actor)
  • Full name: Richard Allen York
  • He was born in Fort Wayne (IN) on September 4, 1928 (a Tueday) and died in East Grand Rapids (MI) on February 20, 1992 (a Thursday) at the age of 63. He is buried at Plainfield Cemetery (Kent County, Michigan).
  • East Grand Rapids is located 3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast of Grand Rapids.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Dick York<1>
• George Zuverink     (Major League Baseball)
  • He was born in Holland (MI) on August 20, 1924 (a Wednesday) and died in Tempe (AZ) on August 8, 2014 (a Friday) at the age of 90. He is buried at Green Acres Memorial Park (Maricopa County, Arizona).
  • Holland is located 25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest of Grand Rapids.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: George Zuverink<1>

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Grand Rapids: www.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/

The official website for Kent County: www.accesskent.com/

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/