Valerie Bertinelli shares rare throwback photos of late ex-husband Eddie Van Halen

The entire musical industry has been in mourning this week following news that legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen lost his battle with cancer at the age of 65. But it’s also been a rough week for those who loved the Van Halen co-founder, including his ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli, who took a trip down memory lane with some throwback photos.On October 8 Bertinelli took to her Instagram stories to post several shots of herself with Van Halen, including a snap of the night they first met in 1980 and another of the two of them hugging on Christmas. There’s also a black-and-white photograph from 1981 at The Forum in Los Angeles, and one from the Central Park carousel in 1993 with their son, Wolfgang. In all of the photos both Bertinelli and Van Halen positively look like babies, reminding fans everywhere just how quickly a lifetime can fly by. “40 years ago my life changed forever when I met you. You gave me the one true light in my life, our son, Wolfgang,” wrote Bertinelli on social media following Wolfgang’s announcement that his father had passed. “Through all your challenging treatments for lung cancer, you kept your gorgeous spirit and that impish grin. I’m so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments. I will see you in our next life my love.”[video_embed id='2050658']RELATED: Remembering Eddie Van Halen and what made him a legend in the music world[/video_embed]Bertinelli isn’t the only one who has been sharing some memories with fans. On October 7, Wolfgang also posted a throwback photo on Twitter of himself learning the guitar from his father, and the next day he posted a shot of himself and his father sharing the stage and having a laugh.

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— Wolf Van Halen (@WolfVanHalen) October 7, 2020

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— Wolf Van Halen (@WolfVanHalen) October 8, 2020

According to reports, Bertinelli, Wolfgang, and Van Halen’s second and current wife, Jane Liszewski, were all at the hospital when Van Halen died. Shortly after his death, an insider revealed to People that the guitarist had a quick decline in his health over the days leading up to his death, as the cancer had spread to all of his organs. Prior to his death Van Halen had suffered from various health issues over the years, including a hip replacement in 1999 following a chronic joint problem, and the partial removal of his tongue in 2000 after the onset of cancer that was believed to have been caused by his heavy smoking habit.Bertinelli and Van Halen married in 1981 and stayed together for 16 years before officially divorcing in 2007. The decline of their relationship was very much followed in the public eye, and it was believed that Van Halen’s drug abuse and alcoholism weighed heavily on the pair. Following the divorce Van Halen went to rehab, and he had reportedly been sober ever since.[video_embed id='-1']Before you go: 10-year-old totally crushes Van Halen guitar solo[/video_embed]