Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Roosevelt "Lank" Comanche, Jr., 71, was born February 8, 1950 to Ruby Neil Comanche and the late Roosevelt Comanche Sr. Comanche was baptized at Mount Nebo Baptist Church in Monroe, LA and accepted Christ at an early age. He attended Mount Nebo, Carver, Carroll Jr. and Carroll High Schools. He was a Carroll High School 1968 graduate. At Carroll, Comanche was an honor student where he studied chemistry and French. He was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. Comanche was a fierce competitor in the classroom and in sports. In football, Comanche was on the LIALO All-State team for two years. Upon receiving an athletic scholarship, Comanche was one of the first African Americans to attend Northeast Louisiana University, now ULM. His superior academic ability led him to University of Washington School of Dentistry, Wiley College, and Grambling State University where he was enrolled at the time of death. During his lifetime, Comanche was gainfully employed at Bell South and Monroe Regional and was the first Air Traffic Controller who worked the first computer as a computer analyst in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was a US Airforce veteran who assisted medical personnel in discovering the first known diagnosis of HIV. His wisdom and philosophy of body conditioning helped him live a healthier lifestyle. His thirst for the word of God propelled his intricacies of knowledge. Comanche went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 24, 202. Left to cherish memories are his mother, Ruby Neil Comanche, three sons, five daughters, four brothers, two sisters, thirty-one grandchildren, thirty-three great grandchildren, best friend Michael Jenkins, and host of friends. Funeral services are Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 3:000 PM at Greater Free Gift Missionary Baptist Church, 5510 Highway 165 South in Monroe, LA. Farther along tempted and tried, we're often made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long; While there are others living about us, never molested, though in the wrong. Farther along we'll know more about it, farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, we'll understand it all by and by. Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer, go in the rain, the cold, and the snow, when there are many living in comfort, giving no heed to all I can do. Tempted and tried, how often we question why we must suffer year after year, being accused by those of our loved ones, e'en though we've walked in God's holy fear. Often when death has taken our loved ones, leaving our home so lonely and so drear, then do we wonder why others prosper, living so wicked year after year. "Faithful till death," saith our loving master; Short is our time to labor and wait; then will our toiling seem to be nothing, when we shall pass the heavenly gate. Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior, hear the last trumpet sound through the sky; then we will meet those gone on before us, then we shall know and understand why.