Smyrna (Ionia County, MI)

Notable Births & Deaths for Smyrna ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Smyrna. 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 (MI) on February 15, 1935 (a Friday) and died in Cape Canaveral (FL) on January 27, 1967 (a Friday).
- Grand Rapids is located in Kent County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- 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 Smyrna 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 (MI) on October 28, 1890 (a Tuesday) and died in Detroit (MI) on May 29, 1952 (a Thursday).
- Grand Rapids is located in Kent County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- 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 Smyrna to Arlington National Cemetery
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 in Kent County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
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 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- Grandville is located in Kent County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- At the time of his death, he was 96.
- He is buried at Grandville Cemetery, located 26 miles [41.8 km] to the west southwest of Smyrna. The cemetery is located in Kent County, Michigan.
- 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 Smyrna 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 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- Grandville is located in Kent County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- At the time of his death, he was 96.
- He is buried at Grandville Cemetery, located 26 miles [41.8 km] to the west southwest of Smyrna. The cemetery is located in Kent County, Michigan.
- 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 Smyrna 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 (MI) on January 11, 1965 (a Monday).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Grand Rapids is located in Kent County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- At the time of his death, he was 71.
- He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, located 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west southwest of Smyrna. The cemetery is located in Kent County, Michigan.
- 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 Smyrna to Woodlawn Cemetery
Don Quinn (Author)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Don Quinn<1>
- He was born in Grand Rapids (MI) on November 18, 1900 (a Sunday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on December 30, 1967 (a Saturday).
- Grand Rapids is located in Kent County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- 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 Smyrna 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 (MI) on May 14, 1893 (a Sunday) and died in Woodland Hills (CA) on December 14, 1968 (a Saturday).
- Grand Rapids is located in Kent County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- 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 Smyrna to Valhalla Memorial Park
Arzeno Eugene 'Stratosphere Man' Selden (High wire performer)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Arzeno Eugene 'Stratosphere Man' Selden<1>
- He was born in Eagle (MI) on September 22, 1889 (a Sunday) and died in Fort Myers (FL) on February 12, 1951 (a Monday).
- Eagle is located in Clinton County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- Fort Myers is located in Lee County, Florida.
- At the time of his death, he was 61.
- He is buried at Deepdale Memorial Park, located 41 miles [66 km] to the southeast of Smyrna. The cemetery is located in Eaton County, Michigan.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Deepdale Memorial Park<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Deepdale Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Smyrna to Deepdale Memorial Park
Sumner Maurice Spaulding (Architect)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Sumner Maurice Spaulding<1>
- He was born in Ionia (MI) on June 14, 1892 (a Tuesday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on April 10, 1952 (a Thursday).
- Ionia is located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast of Smyrna. Both communities are located in Ionia County.
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 59.
- He is buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, which is located in San Diego County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Smyrna to Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery
Elizabeth Wilson (Actress)
- Full name: Elizabeth Elizabeth Wilson
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Elizabeth Wilson<1>
- 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).
- Grand Rapids is located in Kent County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- 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 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west southwest of Smyrna. The cemetery is located in Kent County, Michigan.
- 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 Smyrna 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 in Kent County and is 19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest of Smyrna (which is located in Ionia County).
- At the time of his death, he was 63.
- He is buried at Plainfield Cemetery, located 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Smyrna. 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 Smyrna to Plainfield Cemetery

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.