David Lee Diamond Dave Johnson; 40; of Belle Vernon; died Monday; Feb. 23; 2009; after a lengthy illness; in Mon Valley Care Center. A son of the late Darel L. and Barbara Murray Johnson; he was born in Sandusky; Ohio; June 3; 1968. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Belle Vernon; the North Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Department and was a former Belle Vernon Borough councilman. Dave worked for many nursing facilities and home health agencies throughout the valley as a certified nursing assistant and as an EMT for local ambulance services. A graduate of the Southern Umpiring School in Georgia; he was a certified PIAA high school baseball and girls’ softball umpire since 1995. He was a member of the McKeesport Umpire Association and was selected to umpire the Pony League World Series in 1997. He umpired Girls Summer Fast-Pitch softball and the Fayette County American Legion games for many years and was very active in the Mon Valley Umpires Association; where he officiated both Pony and Colt League games. Dave was invited to Dreams Park in Cooperstown; N.Y.; where he was inducted into the Umpires Hall of Fame. He was a former coach for the Fayette City Bulldogs and led them to a winning season; and was a football referee working with various midget football programs. Survivors include a daughter; Chloe Paige Johnson; of Charleroi; a brother; Brian Johnson; of Belle Vernon; his special friend and companion; Christine Taylor; of Charleroi; his stepmother; June Johnson; of Washington Township; a stepsister and brother-in-law; April and Chad Williams; and a stepniece; Kelsey Kearns; all of Belle Vernon; many aunts; uncles; cousins and friends; and his faithful dog; Pepper. At Dave’s request; there will be no public visitation. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday; Feb. 28; in the First Christian Church; Main Street; Belle Vernon; with the Rev. Don Bowers officiating. Private interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC.; (724-929-5300); www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; is handling arrangements.