I'm thinking it's one or both of 2 things:

Clogged fuel filter. If it's not getting an adequate supply of fuel, it can cause misfiring (the popping sound) and stalling.

Old spark plugs/old distributor cap. On a 25 year old vehicle it's probably time to replace the plugs and dist. cap, and most people just replace the spark plug wires while they're at it. Plugs, a cap and wires really don't cost too much, and are pretty easy to replace at home, just be sure to look up a diagram on the net for your vehicle to make sure you put the wires back on the cap and plugs in the right order. If the mixture in the piston chambers isn't igniting right it'll cause misfiring and stalling. It's most likely this.

A fuel filter usually isn't too hard to do at home either, but can get a little messy if not done right, and of course, a fire hazard. No smoking.