Gudrun Bannen-Todd

Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, on March 12, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Gudmundur Albertsson and Gudny Gudmundsdottir and was educated at schools in Iceland and Amsterdam, Holland. Didda spoke five languages, a talent which served her well as a ground hostess and translator at Iceland's Keflavik Airport, where she met Dr William J. Bannen, Jr., a flight surgeon stationed there with the US Air Force. Dr. Bannen brought her to Greenville, SC as his bride in 1952. Later, after briefly residing in Salt Lake City, Utah, they returned to the Greenville area to take up residence in Simpsonville for the remainder of the twenty-nine years of their marriage. After residing in Simpsonville for over thirty years, she moved to Greenville proper where she lived until very recently. Proud of her Icelandic heritage, she never lost that love of her native land even after she became a US citizen. In the year 2001, she wed Leonard M. Todd to whom she remained married until his death in 2009. In January 2017, she moved to the Foothills Retirement Community.

Mrs. Bannen-Todd was a remarkably energetic person who, as one friend put it, "never let the grass grow under her feet." Hers was a life characterized by service, volunteerism, and "busyness," whether it involved the raising of her three children or serving the community as a whole. Her life activities and interests included: Altar Guild member at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Simpsonville, Girl Scout leader, sewing club, garden club, charter member and past secretary of the Cancer Society of Greenville County, past president of the Greenville County Medical Auxiliary, Executive Secretary for the Furman-Greenville Fine Arts Association, candidate for the SC House of Representatives, docent for the Governor's Mansion, volunteer and coordinator for Meals on Wheels, volunteer for the Greenville Hospital system, procurer of teachers/speakers for the Furman University Learning in Retirement(FULIR) program(now known as OLLIE), and past president of the Crescent Community Club. Among her many personal talents and abilities, she was especially noted for her floral arrangements, intricate needlework, and gardening.

In addition to her parents and husband, Didda was pre-deceased by all of her siblings and her former husband.

She is survived by her children: William J Bannen III of Simpsonville, SC; David G. Bannen (Cynthia) of Wilson, NC; Alison B. Whatley (John) of Cary, NC; and her late husband's son, Leonard M. Todd, Jr. (Laurel) of California. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Devin and Jada Bannen of Columbia, SC; Josh Bannen of Charlotte, NC; Casey, and Pearson Bannen of Wilson, NC; Alissa Whatley of Raleigh, NC; and Katie and Becky Whatley of Cary, NC. Additional survivors include a number of beloved nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at Christ Church Episcopal Markley Chapel on Friday, October 20, at 3:15 pm. The family will receive friends before the service in the Arrington Room at 2:30 pm. Following the funeral service, interment will take place in the Memorial Park at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Simpsonville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Meals on Wheels, 15 Oregon Street, Greenville, SC ,29605 and to Cancer Society of Greenville County, 113 Mills Ave, Greenville, SC, 29605.