On 113 years ago today, August 12, 1912 (June 30, 1912 in the lunar calendar), William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, passed away. Bramwell William Booth August 12, 1912. The Rev. William Booth passed away today at his London home after several years of poor health. The Salvation Army founder and general died at the age of 83. Booth was also one of the world's great religious leaders. He provided food to the poor and clothes to the unclothed, and fought his whole life to help the poor escape poverty. When he heard that his original Christian missionary group seemed to have become a volunteer army, he renamed the organization in 1870 and established chapters around the world.