Bendigo WWII veteran Dennis Todd remembered at 101 for wit and lifelong devotion
A 101-year-old WWII veteran remained devoted to his late wife Norma for 26 years after her death.
Dennis Todd, who served in World War II and moved to Bendigo in 1949, died on October 24 after a long life rooted in central Victoria. Greg Todd delivered the eulogy at his father's funeral on Remembrance Day, describing how Dennis spoke of his wife with admiration for more than two decades after she died in 2000.
Todd was equally famous for his humour and for cracking jokes, a gift nurses at the hospital said he never lost. When asked in November 2025 what his secret to a long life was, he replied simply: "don't drink, don't smoke, don't chase women."
Greg summed up what truly kept his father going: "His real secret to life and long life was living it." Todd is survived by three children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
- 101 years old
- Age at death
- 1949 with RSL support
- Moved to Bendigo
- 26 years after Norma's death in 2000
- Devotion span
- Italian campaign, Gustav Line, 1943-1945
- Combat service
Why it mattersHis life shows that devotion, humour and presence matter more than material wealth in a life well-lived.
AustraliaBendigo loses one of its longest-serving residents, a WWII veteran who shaped the community for 77 years.
