It’s one of those quirky facts that feels like an urban legend—until you find out it’s completely true. The man who designed the iconic Pringles potato chip can is, in part, buried inside one.
Who Was the Man Behind the Can?
The inventor was Fred Baur, a food scientist from Cincinnati, Ohio. In the 1960s, Baur was working for Procter & Gamble when he developed a breakthrough packaging concept: a sturdy, uniform cardboard-and-metal tube that would keep chips fresh and prevent breakage. He also helped create the chip’s distinctive saddle shape, allowing the crisps to be stacked neatly inside the can.
A Packaging Idea That Changed Snacking
Pringles launched nationally in 1971 and quickly became famous not just for their flavor, but for their cylindrical home. The can itself was a marketing triumph—instantly recognizable on store shelves, protective during shipping, and reusable at home. Over the decades, it became a pop culture icon, inspiring memes, DIY crafts, and even musical instruments (yes, you can make a didgeridoo out of one).
His Unusual Final Request
Fred Baur passed away in 2008 at the age of 89. In his will, he made a very specific request: part of his cremated remains should be buried in a Pringles can. His family honored his wish. On the way to the funeral home, they stopped at a local store, bought a can of Pringles (Original flavor, naturally), emptied it, and placed a portion of his ashes inside. The can was then buried alongside a traditional urn.
More Than Just a Gimmick
For Baur, this was more than a quirky send-off—it was a tribute to one of his proudest professional achievements. Inventors rarely get to see their creations become enduring, beloved symbols. For him, the Pringles can wasn’t just packaging; it was a piece of design ingenuity that defined a career.
Legacy in a Can
Today, every time someone pops the lid off a Pringles can and hears that satisfying “whoosh” of freshness, they’re interacting with a piece of packaging history. Fred Baur’s story reminds us that innovation can be found in the everyday, and that a truly great idea can leave a mark far beyond its original purpose—even, in this case, as part of the inventor’s final resting place.