LATAJA WOODEN-TROUTMAN

Our beloved Lataja Daja’ene Wooden–Troutman, affectionately known as “Pooie”; peacefully departed this world at the age of 34, surrounded by her loving family in Avon, Indiana, on August 4, 2025 at 9:16 p.m.

Lataja was born on April 6, 1991, in Indianapolis, Indiana to parents Latoshia Wooden and Steven “Preemie” Troutman.  Lataja grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the Westside. She attended and graduated from Ben Davis High School in 2009. During her time at Ben Davis high school, Lataja played basketball as a Ben Davis Lady Giant and shortly after, pursued a career in Dental Assisting.

Lataja worked for JP Morgan and avidly spent her extra time as a Lyft driver, meeting people from all walks of life. She brought joy to every gathering she attended and embraced life to the fullest. Lataja was destined to make you smile or laugh anytime she graced your presence. If you knew Lataja, you knew how contagious her laughter was. Her greatest happiness came from time with her family and friends, always making herself available whenever anyone needed her. Lataja rededicated her life to Christ May of 2025 at Living Water Fellowship Church, years after originally dedicating her life at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.

Some of her happiest moments were spent teaching her son to play basketball, a sport she had loved since she was ten years old. She cherished going out for ice cream with Dakota and took great pride in spoiling her sisters, being the eldest among them. Lataja cherished the countless hours spent on the phone with her mom, their conversations filled with laughter, playful teasing, and the kind of joy only shared between a mother and daughter. She was also passionate about interior decorating, finding joy in reimagining and reorganizing spaces to make them beautiful and inviting. She found joy in the art of makeup, making beauty apart of her everyday sparkle.

Lataja leaves to cherish her loving memory her mother, Latoshia Wooden; father, Steven “Preemie” Troutman; children, Dwayne (DJ) Robinson and Dakota (KoKo) Robinson; sisters, Ambria Partee, Chrishauna Williams, and Kendra Lanier; brothers, Christopher Burnett and Robert Nickson; nieces, Aubrey Azikiwe and Lyric Williams; nephew, Kaylin Lanier; aunts; Tenneka McFadden, Crystal Smith; uncles; Samuel Newson, Darnell Johnson, Reginald Troutman, Patrick Rainey; grandmothers, Gloria Vaughn and Annie Rainey; grandfathers, Delmar Wooden and Bobbie Newson; along with a host of other relatives and friends who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Kashe’ Mullins, and uncle, Kenneth Rainey.

In Lataja’s memory, may we remember to show love without delay, to express our gratitude out loud, and to give our flowers while hearts are still beating to receive them. Her spirit will remain an inspiration to all who were blessed to know her, and her memory will forever warm the hearts of her loved ones.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LATAJA WOODEN-TROUTMAN, please visit our floral store.