[1] The eldest child of a sugar factory cashier, Widodo, was born in Kapaskamprung Village, east of Surabaya, on 1 September 1927.

During his high school education, he participated in the Indonesian War for Independence in East Java, as part of a Student's Brigade.

After that, he served as the Head of the Police Organization Division in Purwakarta for three years, from 1956 to 1959 and participated in Operations against the Darul Islam rebellion in West Java.

[3] In early 1960, he went to the United States to study at the US Coast Guard Officers Candidate School, and completed in 1960.

[5] On 4 June 1955, Widodo married Darmiati Poeger and had three children: Martini Indah, Agus Aditono and Destina Lestari.