Douglas Leroy Roberts Sr.

1957 - 2025

Douglas Leroy Roberts

November 8, 1957 - December 29, 2025

Modesto, California - Douglas L. Roberts, a beloved father, grandfather, brother and friend was called home to the Lord on December 29, 2025 at the age of 68. Born in Riverside, California on November 8, 1957 to Bobby and Janet (Elwert) Roberts. Doug lived his life deeply involved in the community, church, family and friends.

Doug graduated from Beyer High School in 1975. He was on the golf team in high school and at Modesto Junior College and Fresno State. Doug was passionate about living, athletic, outdoorsy, curious and enjoyed too many adventures to list here, but consistently enjoyed golf, especially traveling with his sons to golf tournaments. Doug was an incredible philanthropist, in the truest sense of the word. If someone needed help you could count on Doug to consider every request and bring compassion, fairness and levity to every situation. VMI (Valley Music Institute) is a prime example of one of the organizations supported by Roberts Auto Sales.

Doug's life journey was marked by a tremendous work ethic, a love of cars and a wonderful sense of humor. These attributes led to the beginning of Roberts Auto Sales. In 1978, he started repairing cars in his driveway and selling them one by one. In 1980, he decided to "go for broke", he sold his house and car to finance Roberts Auto Sales and opened his first car lot at the corner of 11th and L Street in downtown Modesto. In 1989, Doug purchased land at the end of McHenry Avenue across from a cornfield. "If you build it, they will come" and they sure did! His integrity and simple honest salesmanship led to pioneering the "purchase a car with no salesman following you around" slogan. After 45 years, Doug was still very passionate about the business as a whole with his main focus on buying and selling the cars and having fun all along the way. He truly loved what he did. He and his business partner, Dennis Noland, blazed a trail in the local automotive industry caring deeply for their employees and customers. Giving back to the community with automotive repair education, parade floats and entertaining radio commercials, the community responded back enthusiastically.

Doug's devotion to this community, the automotive industry and humanity resulted in his membership and involvement in many organizations; including serving as President of the Independent Automobile Dealers Association of California. In recent years as his family grew (Doug adored and was very proud of his sons and granddaughters), he'd narrowed his involvement down to Men's Prayer group, Del Rio Country Club golf and card groups and Modesto Sunrise Rotary. Vibrant, intelligent and fun, Doug added so much to anything he was involved in, whether lunch with friends or business meetings. Doug was a presence that made a difference for good, always!

In the last decade of his life Doug was transformed by his Faith in Jesus Christ. His favorite bible verse was Ephesians 2: 9-10 Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.

Doug is survived by his children Doug (Kylee) Roberts of Lincoln, NE and David (Elizabeth) Roberts of Castle Pines, CO; and granddaughter's Palmer, Campbell and Rose Roberts

Doug is also survived by his brother, Stan Roberts, of Modesto and sister Cynthia Roberts of Hainesport, NJ and her husband Timothy Moses, and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be a funeral service on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 1:00PM, at Calvary Chapel in Modesto, located at 4300 American Avenue, Modesto, CA 95356

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be directed to Calvary Chapel's general fund in honor of Doug.