Obituaries: April - May 2026

May 1, 2026

Softball News Report

Michael “Milo” Mileham

Michael “Milo” Scott Mileham, 75, of Phoenix, died on April 17 after a long battle with cancer.

Milo started with Senior Softball USA in 2005, but his competition in senior softball and sports in general goes much further back.

Milo played senior softball for 25+ years. “Michael was very proud of the six championship rings won during his long career with his teammates and SSUSA,” according to his online obituary.

“The last 1 ½ years [he was] keeping score and yelling encouragement to his teammates and umpires alike,” said Emery, Milo’s teammate (Full Throttle 70s) and close friend of more than 60 years. “He knew the rules and was always willing to help umpires with questionable calls.”

He also enjoyed football and track in high school. Outside of sports, he worked maintenance at Paradise Valley Unified School District for 30+ years, was a Vietnam War veteran and was very active in his local American Legion, VFW and Elks Club.

Milo will best be remembered playing with Advanced Auto Transport 50s and 55s, and Full Throttle 60-75s, both out of Arizona.

David R. Barnes

Dave Barnes, 82, of Las Vegas, died on April 29.

Dave started with Senior Softball USA in the late 1990s, through his participation with the Las Vegas Senior Softball Association (LVSSA).

Dave served on the LVSSA board and was inducted into LVSSA’s Hall of Fame in 2008 and the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2013.

"Dave Barnes helped shape senior softball on a national level," said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA's chief executive officer. "He was instrumental in the National Senior Softball Summits in helping to make some key rules uniform in all associations."

"He was a first-class guy and wonderful sportsmen who represented our sport in the best possible way," said Hennessy.

Before his senior softball days and moving to Vegas, Dave worked as a Maryland State Trooper.

Dave will best be remembered playing with Ryan’s Way 60s (UT), Elite 70s LVSSA and Las Vegas 75 Coyotes.

John J. Edwards

John Joseph Edwards Jr., 66, of Spring Hill, Tenn., died on May 4.

John joined Senior Softball USA as a 60+ player in 2024. However, in that brief time his teams’ travels took him to both semi-local tournaments, such as the Midwest Championships, as well as far away events, such as the World Championships in Las Vegas and the SSUSA Original Tournament of Championships in Polk County, Florida.

“He loved sports with a competitive fire—basketball, football, baseball as a boy, and later, golf and softball as a man,” according to his online obituary.

“Senior softball became a new chapter of joy, where he was known as a powerful hitter, someone you could count on when it mattered most. Even after double knee replacements, he was determined to get back on the field, to run faster, to play harder.”

Outside of sports, he worked 35+ years in the mortgage industry and in his free time, he enjoyed time with his family and church and traveling where he enjoyed visiting art and live theater.

According to his wife, Dusty, John’s favorite saying was “Who’s got it better than you? Nobody!”

“It was a positive way he wanted his family to look at things and be grateful for all they had in that moment,” said Dave Melosi, manager of Dudley Lightning 65s.

In SSUSA, John will best be remembered playing with Tennessee Select/Edward Jones 60s, and Dudley Lightning 65s out of Missouri.