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Notable Births & Deaths for Podunk ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Podunk. 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.

  • Cornelius John 'Neil' Berry     (Major League Baseball)
  • Roger Bruce Chaffee     (Astronaut)
  • Georgia Cooper     (Actress)
  • Bobby Hatfield     (Singer)
  • Betty Hutton     (Actress, singer)
    • Born: Elizabeth June Thornburg
    • She was born in Battle Creek (MI) on February 26, 1921 (a Saturday) and died in Palm Springs (CA) on March 12, 2007 (a Monday) at the age of 86. She is buried at Desert Memorial Park (Riverside County, California).
    • Battle Creek is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Podunk.
    • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Betty Hutton<1>
  • Dr. John Harvey Kellogg     (Doctor, nutritionist, businessman)
  • Colonel Jack Robert Lousma     (Astronaut - Skylab 2, USMC, aeronautical engineer)
    • He was born in Grand Rapids (MI) on February 29, 1936 (a Saturday) (which is Leap Day)
    • Grand Rapids is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of Podunk.
  • Adele Mara     (Actress)
  • Dick Martin     (Comedian, director)
    • Full name: Thomas Richard Martin
    • He was born in Battle Creek (MI) on January 20, 1922 (a Friday) and died in Santa Monica (CA) on May 24, 2008 (a Saturday) at the age of 86. The body was cremated.
    • Battle Creek is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Podunk.
    • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Dick Martin<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 30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest of Podunk.
    • Grandville is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of Podunk.
    • 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 30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest of Podunk.
    • Grandville is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of Podunk.
    • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Benny McCoy<1>
  • Walter Clement 'Wally' Pipp     (Major League Baseball)
  • Marc Potvin     (Professional hockey)
    • He was born in Ottawa (ON) on January 29, 1967 (a Sunday) and died in Kalamazoo (MI) on January 13, 2006 (a Friday) at the age of 39. He is buried at North Canton Cemetery (Stark County, Ohio).
    • Kalamazoo is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest of Podunk.
    • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Marc Potvin<1>
  • Don Quinn     (Author)
  • Jack Rice     (Actor)
  • Bob Rush     (Major League Baseball)
    • Born: Robert Ransom
    • He was born in Battle Creek (MI) on December 21, 1925 (a Monday) and died in Mesa (AZ) on March 19, 2011 (a Saturday) at the age of 85.
    • Battle Creek is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Podunk.
    • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Bob Rush<1>
  • Ralph Story     (Television & radio personality)
    • Born: Ralph Bernard Snyder
    • He was born in Kalamazoo (MI) on August 19, 1920 (a Thursday) and died in Santa Ynez (CA) on September 26, 2006 (a Tueday) at the age of 86.
    • Kalamazoo is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest of Podunk.
    • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Ralph Story<1>
  • Sojourner Truth     (Abolitionist, activist)
  • Elizabeth Wilson     (Actress)
    • Full name: Elizabeth Elizabeth Wilson
    • She was born in Grand Rapids (MI) 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).
    • Grand Rapids is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of Podunk.
    • 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 26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest of Podunk.
    • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Dick York<1>

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Podunk. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Barry County: www.barrycounty.org/

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

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.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 14 Apr 2025