My son's 96 Civic first started dying while out driving. Last night it would not stay running unless you held the key slightly in the start position the whole way home. I'm thinking the ignition switch since it first started just dying and now you have to hold the ignition on to keep it running. Thoughts on whether you think its the switch?

 

It sounds like the known problem of the bad ignition switch. When it first starts going bad the test is the snap back test. Start the car and let the key snap back to the "on (II)" position. The usually dies. Sounds like yours is beyond that now as you have to hold the key to keep the circuit alive.

It's a fairly common problem with older civics.